With more than a century of automotive manufacturing expertise, Windsor-Essex has earned the title of “Automotive Capital of Canada”.
The automotive sector is evolving and changing at an incredible pace. The “Automobility Membership Program” will help our region diversify from traditional auto manufacturing to next-generation mobility innovation by offering fully funded one-year Memberships with the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Self-driving technologies, light-weight materials, connected and autonomous vehicles, electrification, artificial intelligence, cyber security and smart traffic equipment are technologies that are driving the auto industry into the future. As a resilient and industrious community, Windsor-Essex is embracing transformation and innovation to remain competitive in this rapidly changing global marketplace.
Last September, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) announced a $5 million, three-year investment to the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation (WE EDC) to support our region in transitioning from traditional automotive manufacturing to transformative automotive technologies.
To help achieve this, local organizations across Windsor-Essex are partnering to develop a coordinated approach to grow and sustain the region’s automobility cluster. Led by WE EDC, funding will support four key objectives:
- advance automobility technologies
- promote a vibrant innovation and competitive entrepreneurial network
- expand the Windsor-Essex Automobility Innovation Cluster
- conduct global outreach and nearshoring
PROGRAM DETAILS
Overall, this project is expected to support 165 companies, establish 20 new partnerships, and create and maintain 665 jobs, while strengthening the region’s competitiveness. The overall goal is to attract an estimated $9 million in foreign direct investment, as well as help businesses integrate into global markets.
The Automobility Membership Program is one of the initiatives being funded to promote an entrepreneurial network by offering fully funded Memberships with the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce.
If you’re a company or organization whose products and services are related to the automobility innovation cluster, you are immediately eligible to join!
Automobility Membership Program benefits include access to Chamber Member savings programs and discounts, business advocacy at local, provincial and federal levels, a Member spotlight in the new Automobility Section of our newsletter and website, invitations to exclusive Automobility events, a fully funded one year Membership with the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and a lot more!
The Automobility Membership Program is endorsed by Shelley Fellows, Chair of Automate Canada, and Scott Fairley, CEO of Optimotive Technologies, the program’s first ‘official’ Member.
While reflecting on the rich automotive heritage in this region, Windsor-Essex knows that diversification is key to resilience, and a collaborative effort is needed to realize its full economic potential. By promoting a vibrant ecosystem and embracing automation, smart technologies and innovation, WE EDC aims to make Windsor-Essex a leader in transformative automotive technologies and undergo a global re-brand, becoming the “Automobility Capital of Canada”.
CONTACT DETAILS
For more information on the Automobility Membership Program, visit www.windsoressexchamber.org or contact the Chamber’s Director of Membership Services, Keith Chinnery, at 519-966-3696 x223.
The Automobility Membership Program is just one of the Chamber’s many exciting initiatives. Other projects are focused on Technology Assessment in order to help companies become Export Ready.
Program flyer available here.
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