Toyota To Build Multiple Automated Parts Facilities in Canada

Apr 13

Toyota Canada Inc. will be investing $300 million to build two new automated parts distribution centres in Western Canada, along with a new head office in Ontario.

The two facilities — one in Surrey, British Columbia and the other in Calgary, Alberta — are scheduled to begin operations in 2028 and will replace Toyota’s current Western Canada parts distribution centre in Richmond.

The objective is clear: improve parts delivery speed and service levels to dealerships.

What’s Changing

The new sites will significantly expand Toyota’s parts distribution capacity in the region, with more than three times the space currently available.

Surrey (BC): will support dealerships across British Columbia
Calgary (AB): will serve Alberta, Saskatchewan, and parts of Western Canada

By splitting operations across two locations instead of one centralized facility, Toyota reduces the distance between inventory and dealers — a key factor in delivery time.

Role of Automation

Both facilities are being designed as automated parts distribution centres.

This allows Toyota to:

Process orders faster
Reduce manual handling and travel time inside the warehouse
Improve consistency in picking and fulfillment
Handle higher daily order volumes

Automation in this context is not about technology for its own sake — it directly impacts how quickly parts can move from storage to shipment.

Impact on Dealer Operations

For dealerships, parts availability is critical.

Faster delivery means:

Reduced vehicle downtime in service bays
Improved turnaround times for repairs
Better customer service

Even small reductions in processing or transit time can have a direct impact on daily operations at the dealer level.

Facility Positioning

Location plays a key role in this investment.

The Surrey facility is positioned near major transportation routes to efficiently cover British Columbia
The Calgary facility, located near the airport and key highways, expands reach into Alberta and neighboring regions

This combination of automation inside the building and strategic location outside the building is what enables shorter delivery timelines.

Additional Considerations

Toyota has also stated that the new facilities will be designed to meet high environmental and accessibility standards, including LEED® Gold and Net Zero Carbon targets.

While these elements are part of the broader project, the operational focus remains on improving distribution performance across Western Canada.