Toyota commitment to Ontario auto workers as new RAV4 launches

Toyota RAV4 production in Ontario
Back to all insights

Table of Contents

Based on the CBC News, during a factory tour at the Woodstock facility, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) president Tim Hollander emphasized that this launch demonstrates Toyota’s belief in Canadian talent and infrastructure. “This is a clear signal of our trust in our people, our plants, and our communities,” he said.

The company employs about 8,500 people across its two major Ontario plants in Woodstock and Cambridge. Together, they represent one of the largest centers of Ontario auto manufacturing, producing more vehicles than any other operation in North America.

Investment Amid Industry Challenges

While other automakers have scaled back, Toyota has moved in the opposite direction. In 2025, several parts of Ontario’s auto industry saw heavy losses - from the closure of GM’s CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll to layoffs at Stellantis’s Brampton facility. Despite that, Toyota committed an additional $1.1 billion investment to modernize its Canadian plants and bring hybrid SUV production in-house.

As part of that modernization, Toyota reconfigured its Cambridge and Woodstock plants to build battery packs domestically - a shift that strengthens Canada’s role in the production supply chain. The new RAV4, available exclusively as an electric hybrid, has been redesigned from the ground up.

Toyota RAV4 production in Ontario: Trade Relations and Future Outlook

Federal representatives, including Liberal MP Kareem Bardeesy, attended the event and reinforced the importance of maintaining international trade ties amid upcoming CUSMA reviews. Both Toyota and government officials noted that seamless integration between Canada, the U.S., and Japan remains vital for the industry’s health.

Scott MacKenzie, Toyota’s director of corporate and external affairs, said the company will adapt to trade negotiations as they unfold but stressed that cooperation across North American borders is essential. “The most effective way for the industry to thrive is through full integration with all three partners; without tariffs,” he said.

Toyota’s Vote of Confidence

Despite uncertainty in the global automobile market and new competition from Chinese EVs, Toyota leaders maintain that production in Ontario will continue unaffected. For them, the Toyota RAV4 production in Ontario stands as a testament to stability, quality, and long-term faith in the Canadian automotive workforce.

This is a continued vote of confidence in our Canadian operations,” MacKenzie said, reinforcing Toyota’s position as a cornerstone of the province’s manufacturing landscape.