Inside Waterloo’s ZEV Industry: An Ecosystem Map

Mercedes-Benz and OVIN are launching an incubator focused on AI-driven automotive innovation and Siemens is investing $150M in a battery R&D centre. These are both clear signs that Waterloo region is where the future of automotive and mobility is being built.

In this article, we’re providing an overview of Waterloo’s ZEV ecosystem, highlighting the key players, research labs and commercialization hubs that are powering Canada’s ZEV future.

Key players in our ecosystem

Editor’s note: Waterloo Region is made up of three cities and four townships. We’ve identified the community where you’ll find each company in parentheses below. Together, we’re known as Waterloo.

With a strong automotive industry and 150 years of manufacturing history, Waterloo is home to a wide array of companies working in ZEV, including:

• Toyota (Cambridge): A global OEM giant supporting Canada’s transition towards sustainable mobility by focusing on hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
• Siemens (Kitchener): A global technology leader supporting Canada’s ZEV future by investing in battery research and production and sustainable transportation innovation.
• PWO Canada (Kitchener): A leading automotive parts manufacturer specializing in lightweight metal components with a focus on climate-friendly design.
• ATS Automation (Cambridge): An automation leader helping optimize complex manufacturing and delivering precision solutions to EV battery and powertrain assembly.
• Eclipse Automation (Cambridge): An end-to-end automation company bringing deep automative expertise to deliver custom automation solutions for EV manufacturing.
• Ansys (Waterloo): An engineering simulation software company helping speed up innovation in electric and hybrid vehicles, from individual components like batteries to full powertrain systems.
• VCT Group (Kitchener): A clean-tech company providing innovative fast-speed residential and commercial EV charging solutions.

Download the ecosystem map for the the full list of companies in the Waterloo area.

ZEV companies by sub-sector

Our ecosystem map breaks down key players by sub-sectors to showcase their focus area. Here’s how they come together to advance clean transportation technologies in Waterloo:

• Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology: Develop nano-scale technologies and high-performance materials for ZEV components like sensors and displays.
• Automation and Robotics: Design and deploy systems to streamline and automate ZEV component manufacturing and assembly.
• Charging Infrastructure: Develop and deploy hardware and network needed to charge ZEV residentially and commercially.
• Data and Analytics: Utilize data-driven insights to optimize ZEV performance and manufacturing processes for improved efficiency and sustainability.
• Electric Motors and Power Systems: Design and manufacture electric drivetrains, control systems and motors to optimize ZEV performance.
• OEM Assembly Capacity: Manufacture and assemble ZEVs by integrating advanced components for next-generation mobility.
• Software Solutions: Develop digital solutions and simulations to optimize EV design, performance, battery performance and vehicle operation.
• ZEV Metal and Fabrication: Produce high quality metal components including structural parts, powertrain systems and battery enclosures for ZEV.
• ZEV Parts and Components: Design and manufacture specialized components and parts like sensors connectors and battery systems critical for efficient performance of ZEV.
• ZEV Plastics and Coatings: Produce advanced plastic materials and coatings that offer durable, sustainable and lightweight solutions for vehicle exterior and interior.

Commercialization hubs & research labs

Our region is home to various commercialization and research hubs that unite academia, industry and government to accelerate the growth of new EV technologies.

• Communitech: As one of Canada’s leading innovation hubs, Communitech supports emerging tech companies with capital, mentoring and commercialization resources to fast-track innovation.
• Ontario Battery and Electrochemical Research Centre (OBEC): As Ontario’s very first battery research centre, OBEC aims to advance next-generation battery research and production and find new materials for more sustainable and longer lasting batteries for energy storage.
• Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research (WatCAR): Canada’s largest academic automotive research hub, connecting the University of Waterloo with industry partners to push the boundaries of smart mobility.
• Autonomous Vehicle Research and Intelligence Lab (AVRIL): A 10-bay R&D workspace for applications like automated driving, vehicle connectivity and advanced driver assistance systems.

These and many more hubs work together to strengthen Waterloo’s ZEV ecosystem. Download the ecosystem map for a closer look.

Why join the ecosystem?

There’s no shortage of reasons why joining Waterloo’s ZEV ecosystem is a smart choice. Here are a few that set Waterloo apart:

• Strong EV battery supply chain: Waterloo is well-positioned in the EV battery supply chain with key opportunities in battery component manufacturing, battery cell manufacturing, battery pack assembly and EV assembly.
• Top-tier tech talent: Waterloo is North America’s #1 small tech talent market for four years. The pool of deeply skilled talent across mobility, automotive and AI contributes to the local industry.
• Government incentives and programs: There are several federal and provincial support programs including the Strategic Innovation Fund, OVIN R&D Fund that make scaling and innovation easier.
• Strategic location: Waterloo’s location in the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor makes it a wise choice for investment. With easy access to the talent from Canada’s top engineering university and the largest robotics and automation cluster, the region offers unbeatable advantages for ZEV innovation.
• World-leading R&D: Backed by cutting-edge research centres like OBEC, WatCAR, AVRIL and others that foster strong industry-academia partnerships, it’s no surprise that Waterloo is the launchpad for next-generation battery and EV technologies.
• Clean and affordable energy: With over 90% of Ontario’s energy coming from emission-free sources, the region offers businesses a cost-effective way to reduce their carbon footprint.