Hiram Walker favoured diversification and Walkerville welcomed many industries including the automotive industry. The Ford Motor Company of Canada opened its factory there in 1904, followed by the E-M-F Company whose plant was acquired by Studebaker in 1910 and which became the assembly line for right-hand-drive vehicles exported to the UK and British Empire. In 1929, the "Financial Post" reported that 500 of the town's families were supported by Studebaker, "only one of its activities being the manufacture of motor cars. During the world war, great quantities of war material was produced for the Canadian and Imperial governments. Today, plant manufactures a line of 59 models of six- and eight-cylinder passenger motor cars, trucks, ambulances, and funeral coaches". Chrysler, General Motors and Seagrave were other manufacturers with plants in Walkerville.