Ontario Invests $70M in Regional Auto Tech Sites — DLVR Electric Reaffirms SmartTO Partnership
Toronto, Canada — February 13, 2026
DLVR Electric Inc. today highlighted its ongoing partnership with SmartTO (Smart Mobility Applied Research and Testing-Technologies of Ontario) — a Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS) in York Region funded through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN).
SmartTO forms part of Ontario’s province-wide RTDS network designed to support SMEs and innovators in accelerating the development, testing and commercialization of advanced automotive and mobility technologies. Delivered by York University in collaboration with Centennial College, SmartTO provides industry partners access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure and technical expertise.
The Government of Ontario recently reinforced its commitment to automotive and smart mobility innovation by announcing nearly $70 million to support nine RTDS locations across the province, including a $2.5 million allocation for York Region to enhance automotive technology development and testing capacity.
The RTDS program connects post-secondary institutions, research centres and industry partners to provide SMEs with access to prototyping infrastructure, testing environments and commercialization pathways. This support is intended to accelerate innovation in connected, autonomous, electric and low-carbon vehicle technologies while strengthening Ontario’s automotive supply chain.
York Region’s strong base of automotive parts manufacturers and technology firms positions it as a key contributor to Ontario’s innovation economy. The recent provincial investment further strengthens the region’s ability to support companies advancing electrified and next-generation mobility solutions.
As a SmartTO partner, DLVR Electric continues to operate within this expanding innovation ecosystem, contributing to Ontario’s broader objective of leading in sustainable and advanced vehicle technologies.
References
YorkRegion.com — Ontario gives York Region auto tech site
York University — SmartTO About Us
https://www.yorku.ca/research/project/smartto/about-us/Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) — Investment to establish nine Regional Technology Development Sites across Ontario
https://www.ovinhub.ca/the-ontario-vehicle-innovation-network-ovin-supports-a-nearly-70-million-investment-to-establish-nine-regional-technology-development-sites-across-ontario/
