The Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research (WatCAR) stands as Canada’s largest automotive-academic enterprise, fostering and supporting collaboration between the University of Waterloo and automotive manufacturers, parts suppliers, and related industries and organizations at the provincial, national, and global levels.
WatCAR plays a pivotal role in advancing automotive research, innovation and education, serving as the primary representative of the University of Waterloo’s automotive research activities. WatCAR supports hundreds of faculty members and researchers from across a diverse range of academic disciplines, making it a cornerstone of the University’s engagement with the automotive sector.
WatCAR Mission
- Research Partnership with Focus on SMEs - fostering collaborations which are critical to driving innovation and addressing key challenges in the automotive sector, including autonomous systems, electrification, and manufacturing technologies.
- Professional Development and Training - supports cutting-edge training and development programs that equip both students and industry professionals with the skills and expertise needed to address the rapidly changing demands of the automotive and mobility industries.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Public Outreach – communicating and broadening the impact of WatCAR’s research and innovations, and ensure research is aligned with industry needs, policy development, and societal benefits.