Automotive News Canada

What Automotive News Canada does

Automotive News Canada is the Canadian regional section of Crain Communications' Automotive News trade publication, operating as a B2B media platform serving the Canadian automotive industry. It delivers daily news, proprietary rankings, and analysis across retail (dealerships), manufacturing, technology, and electric vehicle categories, alongside flagship products including the Top 150 Dealership Groups ranking, the State of Trade Report, a Data Center analytics hub, industry events, awards programs, and the Canada Conversations weekly podcast. The platform distributes content primarily through digital publishing at canada.autonews.com and the associated podcast channels.

The business operates a subscription-led revenue model complemented by display and digital advertising sold to manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers seeking access to Canadian automotive decision-makers. A separate events and sponsorships stream monetizes flagship editorial properties such as the Best Practices annual supplement, sponsored by Scotiabank. Customer concentration sits across three primary segments: franchised and independent dealership groups across Canada, OEMs and manufacturers operating in the Canadian market (including Detroit 3, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese brands), and component/technology suppliers.

The section is run with 11–50 employees, is headquartered in Detroit as part of Crain Communications, Inc. (a privately held Michigan corporation), and competes as one of the only dedicated Canadian-specific automotive trade titles. Its technical footprint is a digital publishing platform without disclosed API, AI, or proprietary technology extensions, and its core differentiators are brand authority inherited from the 1925-founded Automotive News franchise, Canadian-specific editorial scope (USMCA, Unifor labor relations, regional EV policy), and a recurring content calendar built around annual ranking and report franchises.

Name

Automotive News Canada

Legal name

Crain Communications, Inc.

Website

https://canada.autonews.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Automotive News Canada is the Canadian B2B trade publication arm of Crain Communications' Automotive News franchise, delivering subscription and advertising-funded news, rankings, podcasts, and events to Canadian dealership groups, OEMs, and automotive suppliers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Trade Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Newspaper Publishers (513110), Directory and Mailing List Publishers (51314), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive & Transportation Magazines (MPAJAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Newsletters & Email-Based News Publishers (B2B/B2C) (MPAJADAJ), Data Journalism & News Intelligence Publishers (Indexes, Election/Market Data) (MPAJADAK)

Keywords

• Automotive trade publishing
• B2B industry news
• Automotive market intelligence
• Dealership rankings
• Trade policy analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Subscription Revenue: Subscription-based access to automotive industry news, data center content, digital edition publications, and premium reporting for Canadian automotive professionals including dealership groups and manufacturers.
2. Advertising: Display and digital advertising sold to automotive manufacturers, suppliers, and related service providers seeking to reach Canadian automotive industry professionals.
3. Events & Sponsorships: Industry events and awards programs including sponsorships such as the Best Practices supplement sponsored by Scotiabank.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Automotive News Canada is a B2B digital trade publication that delivers Canadian automotive industry news, market data, rankings, and analysis to dealerships, manufacturers, and suppliers. Its core offerings include subscription-based digital news access, the Canada Conversations podcast, the annual Top 150 Dealership Groups ranking, the State of Trade Report, a Data Center analytics hub, Digital Edition supplements, industry events, and an awards program. The publication is a regional brand operated under Crain Communications, Inc., leveraging the parent company's editorial infrastructure and brand recognition since 1925.

Product overview

Automotive News Canada is a comprehensive B2B news publication and information platform serving the Canadian automotive industry. The platform operates as a unified digital publication offering news coverage across retail, manufacturing, technology, and EV sectors, supplemented by specialized products including the Top 150 Dealership Groups ranking, State of Trade Report, Data Center analytics hub, industry Events, Awards programs, Digital Edition, Jobs Board, and the Canada Conversations podcast. These products collectively provide industry professionals with news, data, networking opportunities, and career resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Canada Conversations: Podcast featuring weekly automotive news stories from Canada including interviews with industry leaders like Unifor President Lana Payne, Magna CEO Swamy Kotagiri, and Hyundai Canada executives.

Products and services

• Top 150 Dealership Groups Annual ranking report identifying the largest dealership groups operating in the Canadian automotive retail market, for automotive industry professionals tracking competitive positioning.
• State of Trade Report Analysis report examining trade tariffs, USMCA policy, and their impact on the automotive manufacturing sector, targeted at OEMs and policy professionals.
• Data Center Centralized hub providing automotive industry data, statistics, and analytical resources for automotive professionals and analysts.
• Events Industry conferences, networking events, and industry programs for automotive professionals across dealerships, OEMs, and suppliers.
• Awards Annual awards programs recognizing excellence and achievement in the Canadian automotive industry for dealerships, executives, and organizations.
• Digital Edition Online digital version of the print publication with supplementary content and interactive features, available to automotive industry subscribers.
• Best Practices Supplement Annual roundup of dealership best practices stories, sponsored by Scotiabank, providing in-depth dealership operational content for Canadian dealer groups and retailers.
• Jobs Board Online job board at jobs.autonews.com connecting automotive industry professionals with employment opportunities across dealerships, OEMs, and suppliers.
• EV Section Dedicated news and analysis section covering electric vehicle developments, launches, and industry trends for automotive professionals tracking the EV transition.
• Canada Conversations Podcast Weekly podcast featuring Canadian automotive industry news, executive interviews, and analysis of top stories, distributed via the website and podcast platforms.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ScotiabankcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Scotiabank serves as sponsor for Automotive News Canada Best Practices annual supplement, a flagship publication covering dealership operational excellence. This sponsorship demonstrates Scotiabank's commitment to automotive dealership financial services and dealer education.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AutoNewsCanada
• Facebookfacebook.com/autonewscanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/automotivenewscanada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Automotive News Canada