* Money will leverage up to C$365 mln in investment

* Aid approximately matches Linamar's Q2 loss

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced C$54.8 million ($50.7 million) in aid to autoparts maker Linamar Corp (LNR.TO) on Monday to help it develop green and fuel-efficient automotive powertrains.

The repayable contribution will help leverage up to C$365 million in investment by 2013, Harper said at the opening of Linamar's research and development center in Guelph, Ontario.

Linamar reported a loss of C$48.4 million in the second quarter, largely because of production shutdowns at General Motors Co [GM.UL] and Chrysler, two of its biggest customers, while they went into and emerged from bankruptcy protection.

Chrysler went into government-financed bankruptcy earlier this year in a deal that gave management control to Italy's Fiat SpA (FIA.MI).

The federal money comes from an Automotive Innovation Fund, set up to provide C$250 million over five years to support large-scale, strategic research and development in the sector.

($1=$1.08 Canadian) (Reporting by Randall Palmer; editing by Rob Wilson)

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