Driving the Future: How Québec’s LeddarTech is Powering Canada’s Next Automotive Revolution

The race to develop autonomous vehicles is accelerating, with the global market projected to grow from $73 billion in 2024 to nearly $100 billion in 2025, driven by increasing demand for smarter, safer driving technology. While much of the spotlight falls on global automakers, the real breakthroughs are happening behind the scenes—in the advanced software and sensing systems that will power the future of mobility.

That’s where LeddarTech, a Quebéc City-based innovator in autonomous driving AI and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), is making its mark. By developing cutting-edge sensor fusion and perception software, the company is ensuring that Canada plays a leading role in the next era of transportation—not just as a car manufacturer, but as a pioneer in the technology that will define the industry’s future.

The Canadian automotive sector contributes $14 billion to the country’s GDP and supports nearly 500,000 jobs, but much of its role has been focused on assembly and manufacturing rather than ownership of the underlying technology. As the global auto industry transitions toward self-driving, electric, and connected vehicles, there’s an opportunity for Canada to move up the value chain—not just building cars, but developing and owning the foundational technology that will power them.

LeddarTech is helping make this shift a reality. Founded as a spin-off from Quebec’s National Optics Institute, the company has spent years perfecting sensor technologies and AI-driven perception software that allow vehicles to interpret and navigate their surroundings with greater accuracy and efficiency. These solutions are already being integrated into autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle systems around the world, making LeddarTech one of Canada’s best-kept secrets in high-tech innovation.

A key to LeddarTech’s success is its deep network of Canadian partnerships, proving that homegrown technology can compete globally without leaving its roots behind. The company collaborates with research institutions like Université Laval, MILA, and the University of Toronto to train the next generation of AI engineers and mobility experts. It also works with Canadian businesses like Sensor Cortek for engineering recruitment and ITI for IT solutions, reinforcing the country’s high-tech sector while keeping critical expertise within Canada.

“At LeddarTech, we believe that Canadian innovation shouldn’t just follow global trends—it should create them,” says Frantz Saintellemy, CEO of LeddarTech. “By developing world-class technology while working with homegrown talent, we’re proving that Canada can lead in the future of mobility.”

While the automakers of the 20th century built their fortunes on steel, assembly lines, and gas-powered engines, the winners of the next era will be those who own the software, sensors, and AI that make vehicles smarter and safer. Canada has the expertise, the talent, and the innovative companies to be a leader in this shift—if it chooses to invest in value-added technology rather than just manufacturing capacity.

LeddarTech is proving that Canada doesn’t have to play catch-up in the global auto industry—it can set the pace. By building world-class automotive technology while investing in Canadian talent, the company is laying the foundation for a future where Canada isn’t just assembling vehicles, but shaping the technology that will drive them.

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This article is part of CCI’s “By Canadian Innovators” series, which showcases how members of the Council of Canadian Innovators work with homegrown companies to fuel their growth and make Canada more prosperous. Each story in this series highlights the unique contributions of these companies to building a more prosperous, innovation-driven economy. To learn more about the companies CCI works with to build a more prosperous Canada, visit our member directory.

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