{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"May 12th, 2026 | Unifor President Lana Payne on USMCA talks; Mazda delays EV by 2 years","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/may-12th-2026-unifor-president-lana-payne-on-usmca-talks-mazda-delays-ev-by-2-years","audioUrl":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.buzzsprout.com/2447022/episodes/19165077-may-12th-2026-unifor-president-lana-payne-on-usmca-talks-mazda-delays-ev-by-2-years.mp3","description":"Unifor President Lana Payne discusses what Canadian auto workers want from the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement renegotiations, including its push for a “sell in North America, build in North America” rule. Mazda delays its first dedicated electric vehicle by two years and slashes its EV investment nearly in half, pivoting to hybrids. Plus, a look at Automotive News’ series on the state of trade in 2026."},"annotations":[{"startTime":7.4,"endTime":54.2,"type":"term","title":"dedicated EV","url":"/glossary/dedicated-ev","quote":"Today on the show, Mazda delays its first dedicated EV by two years... Mazda is hitting the brakes on its big EV push. The automaker just delayed its first dedicated electric vehicle by two years to 2029.","canonicalId":"term:dedicated-ev","priority":0.55,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A dedicated EV is an electric vehicle designed from the ground up around an EV powertrain and battery packaging, rather than being adapted from a gasoline platform. That usually affects everything from crash structure and battery placement to software and manufacturing efficiency.","simplifiedExplanation":"A dedicated EV is a car that was designed specifically to be electric, not just converted from a gas car. That can make it work better and be easier to build efficiently."}},{"startTime":61.8,"endTime":74.1,"type":"term","title":"hybrids","url":"/glossary/hybrid","quote":"The new plan? Go big on hybrids. Mazda is adding three new gasoline electric models by 2030...","canonicalId":"term:hybrids","priority":0.45,"confidence":0.7,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A hybrid vehicle uses both an internal-combustion engine and an electric motor/battery. The electric system can assist the engine and enable limited electric-only driving, which helps reduce fuel use compared with a pure gas car.","simplifiedExplanation":"A hybrid uses a gas engine and an electric motor together. The electric part can help the gas engine and sometimes let the car move using electricity for short stretches."}},{"startTime":63.7,"endTime":69.5,"type":"company","title":"Chang'an","url":"/glossary/chang-an","quote":"Mazda is adding three new gasoline electric models by 2030 and leaning on EVs built in China with partner Chang'an to ship to Europe and other markets.","canonicalId":"company:chang-an","priority":0.25,"confidence":0.7,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Chang'an is an automotive company that partners with other brands for vehicle development and production. Here, Mazda is described as leaning on EVs built in China with Chang'an for shipping to Europe and other markets.","simplifiedExplanation":"Chang'an is a car company in China. The segment says Mazda plans to use EVs made with Chang'an and then ship them to Europe and other places."}},{"startTime":84.8,"endTime":104.8,"type":"company","title":"General Motors","url":"/glossary/general-motors","quote":"Back here in the States, EV investment woes and stagnant US sales are pushing General Motors to look for ways to cut costs. GM is cutting 500 to 600 information technology workers globally as it restructures the department.","canonicalId":"company:general-motors","priority":0.35,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"General Motors (GM) is a major automaker that also operates large-scale corporate functions like IT and finance worldwide. In this segment, GM is described as cutting IT jobs as part of cost-reduction and restructuring tied to its EV strategy.","simplifiedExplanation":"General Motors is a big car company. Here, they’re talking about cutting some IT jobs to reduce costs while dealing with challenges in their electric-vehicle plans."}},{"startTime":104.8,"endTime":112.02,"type":"term","title":"write downs","url":"/glossary/write-downs","quote":"GM has taken $8.7 billion in write downs tied to its EV business and already trimmed hundreds","canonicalId":"term:write-downs","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.75,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A write-down is an accounting adjustment that reduces the book value of an asset when it’s no longer expected to be worth as much as previously recorded. In an EV context, write-downs often reflect reduced expectations for investments, inventory, or related business value.","simplifiedExplanation":"A write-down is an accounting “downward adjustment” when a company decides an investment or asset isn’t going to be worth as much as they thought. It’s basically a financial recognition of losses or lower future value."}},{"startTime":326.9,"endTime":357.5,"type":"concept","title":"USMCA review","url":"/glossary/usmca-review","quote":"Well, we're about to hear from Unifor President Lana Payne about what Canadian auto workers want\n[326.9s] from the USMCA review coming up in July.","canonicalId":"concept:usmca-review","priority":0.55,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"USMCA is the trade agreement between the US, Canada, and Mexico, and it includes a formal review process. In this segment, the hosts discuss how automakers are preparing for what could change in the July review and how that could affect rules for building and sourcing vehicles in North America.","simplifiedExplanation":"USMCA is a trade deal between the US, Canada, and Mexico. The agreement gets reviewed, and changes to it could affect what car parts and cars can be made where."}},{"startTime":366.8,"endTime":383.2,"type":"term","title":"US content requirement","url":"/glossary/us-content-requirement","quote":"Something that's been floated as a possibility from the US, for example, is a US content\n[371.6s] requirement. So in addition to having 75% of the value of a vehicle having to be sourced in\n[377.6s] North America, in addition to that, some percentage would have to be sourced from\n[381.6s] within the US itself.","canonicalId":"term:us-content-requirement","priority":0.7,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A US content requirement is a rule that forces a certain portion of a vehicle’s value (or parts) to be sourced from within the United States. The segment ties it to North American sourcing rules and explains that adding a stricter “within the US” percentage would significantly change automakers’ supply chains and investment decisions.","simplifiedExplanation":"A US content requirement is a rule that says some of a car’s parts (or value) must come from the United States. That can change where automakers choose to build cars and buy parts."}},{"startTime":395.9,"endTime":406.0,"type":"concept","title":"bilateral deals","url":"/glossary/bilateral-deals","quote":"And then Trump has also floated in the past, leaving the agreement entirely,\n[401.6s] maybe going with bilateral deals instead.","canonicalId":"concept:bilateral-deals","priority":0.45,"confidence":0.75,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Bilateral deals are trade agreements between two countries rather than a single multi-country agreement. Here, the host notes a possibility of replacing USMCA with bilateral arrangements, which would likely create different rules for vehicle sourcing and market access.","simplifiedExplanation":"Bilateral deals are agreements between just two countries. The idea mentioned here is that instead of one big North American deal, the US could negotiate separate deals with other countries."}},{"startTime":498.78,"endTime":506.0,"type":"concept","title":"USMCA talks","url":"/glossary/usmca-talks","quote":"As we tee up USMCA talks with the United States, I'm just hoping you can spell out Unifor's wish list to start me off here.","canonicalId":"concept:usmca-talks","priority":0.55,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"USMCA is the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, a trade deal that shapes how cars and parts move across North America. When people say “USMCA talks” in an automotive context, they’re usually referring to negotiating rules that affect tariffs and what qualifies as North American-made content.","simplifiedExplanation":"USMCA is a trade agreement between the US, Mexico, and Canada. Automotive “talks” means negotiators are trying to change rules that affect car and parts pricing and where they have to be made."}},{"startTime":510.1,"endTime":516.0,"type":"term","title":"tariffs","url":"/glossary/tariffs","quote":"Obviously, our first priority is to get the tariffs removed that have been applied through the Section 232 on autos, but on all sectors in the Canadian economy.","canonicalId":"term:tariffs","priority":0.7,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Tariffs are taxes a government charges on imported goods. In the auto industry, tariffs can raise the cost of imported vehicles and parts, which then influences pricing, sourcing decisions, and how companies structure production across borders.","simplifiedExplanation":"Tariffs are taxes on imported products. If cars or parts are taxed when they cross a border, they can get more expensive and companies may change where they build things."}},{"startTime":512.9,"endTime":516.0,"type":"term","title":"Section 232","url":"/glossary/section-232","quote":"Obviously, our first priority is to get the tariffs removed that have been applied through the Section 232 on autos, but on all sectors in the Canadian economy.","canonicalId":"term:section-232","priority":0.75,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Section 232 refers to a US trade-law mechanism that allows the government to impose tariffs or other restrictions on imports for “national security” reasons. In autos, it’s been used to justify tariffs that affect vehicle and parts imports, making the policy a major lever in USMCA-related negotiations.","simplifiedExplanation":"Section 232 is a US law that can add extra taxes or limits on imports. In the auto world, it has been used to justify tariffs on cars and auto parts."}},{"startTime":522.3,"endTime":536.0,"type":"term","title":"rules of origin","url":"/glossary/rules-of-origin","quote":"That has to be a priority because any discussion on things like rules of origin or all of these other items that will likely become part of the negotiation around auto are kind of useless and futile until we get to a place where we're discussing and having those tariffs removed.","canonicalId":"term:rules-of-origin","priority":0.65,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Rules of origin are the criteria that determine whether a product counts as “made in” a particular country or region for trade-agreement purposes. For cars, these rules affect whether vehicles qualify for preferential treatment under USMCA, which in turn drives supply-chain sourcing and manufacturing locations.","simplifiedExplanation":"Rules of origin are the standards that decide where a product is considered to be made. For cars, that can change whether the vehicle gets special trade benefits or faces higher costs."}},{"startTime":584.6,"endTime":600.7,"type":"concept","title":"importing 5 million cars","url":"/glossary/importing-5-million-cars","quote":"But also that focuses on this very big problem we have. And that is we are importing 5 million cars, which is about 22% of the market, probably a little higher.","canonicalId":"concept:importing-5-million-cars","priority":0.45,"confidence":0.75,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The speaker is using import volume as an indicator of how much of the market is supplied by vehicles not built in North America. In trade negotiations, import share matters because it affects bargaining leverage and the perceived impact on regional manufacturing jobs and investment.","simplifiedExplanation":"They’re talking about how many cars are being brought in from outside North America. In trade talks, the size of imports helps show how big the pressure is on local factories and jobs."}},{"startTime":1057.6,"endTime":1113.3,"type":"concept","title":"rapid response mechanism","url":"/glossary/rapid-response-mechanism","quote":"For example, the rapid response mechanism, which I'm sure you're aware of, which basically lays out an ability to protect things like freedom of association and unionization, which was available to Mexican workers.","canonicalId":"concept:rapid-response-mechanism","priority":0.4,"confidence":0.7,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A rapid response mechanism is a trade-agreement tool designed to quickly address labor-related concerns tied to cross-border production. In this context, it’s described as a way to protect workers’ rights—specifically freedom of association and unionization—for workers in participating countries.","simplifiedExplanation":"A rapid response mechanism is a fast way to respond when labor rights issues come up in trade. Here, it’s being discussed as a way to help workers access protections related to organizing and unions."}},{"startTime":1107.2,"endTime":1118.5,"type":"concept","title":"onshore more of the work in North America","quote":"Obviously, talking about rules of origin so that you could increase and onshore more of the work in North America was very important.","canonicalId":"concept:onshore-more-of-the-work-in-north-america","priority":0.35,"confidence":0.65,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Onshoring” means shifting production or jobs back to a country or region, rather than relying on overseas suppliers. In auto trade talks, it’s often used to describe increasing North American manufacturing of parts and vehicles to meet sourcing requirements and reduce exposure to import costs.","simplifiedExplanation":"Onshoring means moving production jobs back to North America instead of making them elsewhere. In car supply chains, it usually means more local parts and assembly."}},{"startTime":1140.5,"endTime":1158.1,"type":"concept","title":"China-EV deal","quote":"So just take me through what that's done in the buildup to these talks and where you expect it to go on the China-EV deal.","canonicalId":"concept:china-ev-deal","priority":0.25,"confidence":0.55,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A “China-EV deal” refers to an agreement or negotiation between the US and China aimed at addressing electric-vehicle-related trade issues. In these discussions, it’s typically tied to tariffs, market access, and how EV supply chains are regulated or restricted.","simplifiedExplanation":"A “China-EV deal” is a negotiation about electric vehicles between the US and China. It usually affects taxes and rules for EVs and their parts."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Automotive News","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/may-12th-2026-unifor-president-lana-payne-on-usmca-talks-mazda-delays-ev-by-2-years/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}