Automotive News Canada Podcast
Automotive News Canada
Updated 1 day agoPodcast by Automotive News Canada
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Episodes (316)
Aug. 12, 2022 | New Unifor President Lana Payne’s pledges and priorities
Lana Payne is the new national president at Unifor. She says it’s time for the union to “turn a page” and restore trust in order to move past the kickback scandal that ended Jerry Dias’ presidency early. She also says nothing will change when it comes to auto bargaining unless committee members what to tweak that approach. And, she plans to grow the union and take its fight “in the street god damnit.”
Aug. 5, 2022 | Kimoby’s Dan Robinson on why text is the new followup phone call
Kimoby’s Dan Robinson helped develop and market a software program that allows dealers to use text messaging to communicate with customers, help stores run more efficiently, and save dealerships money. He tells us why good old-fashioned email and phone calls are already antiquated technology at dealerships and what makes instant messaging the go-to solution in customer service and retention.
July 29, 2022 | Everything you need to know about Unifor’s presidential election
Automotive News Canada Toronto Bureau Chief David Kennedy sets the scene less than two weeks before Unifor elects its next president. Who’s running? What’s the process? And what’s the first order of business for the union’s next national leader?
July 22, 2022 | Terry Rafih on U.S. stores, online sales and the luxury tax
Rafih Auto Group CEO Terry Rafih compares and contrasts Canadian and U.S. operations discuss his new, unique Gen-5 Porsche store in Michigan, and talks about “the ups and downs of Detroit” as it relates to automotive. He also has some candid thoughts on the Canadian federal luxury tax.
July 15, 2022 | Why dealers must 'embrace technology…as we’re sailing into the unknown’
Trader Corporation’s AutoSync President Edwin Ulak discusses how consumers always drive change in the retail space, particularly online. He also has some advice for dealers as the pace of digital transactions picks up.
July 8, 2022 | CVMA’s Brian Kingston: Canada needs $15,000 EV incentives, 1.6M chargers
Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association President Brian Kingston discusses his group’s new EV Readiness Dashboard, calls for tripling EV incentives, explains why Canada needs 1.6 million chargers, and tells us what he learned at the Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition in Oslo, Norway.
July 1, 2022 | Google Canada’s Al-Karim Awadia on what Canadians are searching for (Replay)
Al-Karim Awadia, Google Canada’s Head of Industry - Automotive, tells us what Canadians are searching for, what dealers need to do to seamlessly transition to digital retailing, and looks at what lies ahead for automotive online.
June 24, 2022 | Jeff Williams of Absolute Results on how to measure sales success
Jeff Williams of Absolute Results says dealers need to look at new ways to measure success when inventory is tight and demand is high. He also has advice on how dealers should prepare now for a return to normal inventory levels. And, he says, the compensation model absolutely has to change as the digital revolution continues.
June 17, 2022 | CADA’s Huw Williams, Chris Pfaff on effects of ‘ridiculous’ luxury tax SUMMARY
Huw Williams, a lobbyist for the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association, and Chris Pfaff, CEO of Pfaff Automotive Partners, talk about the “huge detrimental effect” the federal luxury tax will have on dealers. They also vow to keep fighting against the levy, despite it being scheduled to go into force on Sept. 1. They warn it will cost the industry jobs and millions of dollars.
June 10, 2022 | Toyota’s Frank Voss on what makes Canada a good place to build vehicles
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada President Frank Voss explains why Canada is a good place to build vehicles, discusses its trade advantages and talks about how the country’s pledge to carbon neutrality affects decision making.
June 3, 2022 | Nano One CEO Dan Blondal on Canada’s important EV battery role
Nano One CEO Dan Blondal talks about Canada’s “really important role globally” when it comes to EV battery development. He explains why Quebec is so attractive to the EV battery-making process, and, what’s next for the expanding B.C. battery firm.
May 27, 2022 | Kijiji’s Leanne Kripp on the ‘significant shift to online transactions’
Leanne Kripp, Kijiji’s head of automotive, says there is a “significant shift to online transactions underway” and that Millennials and Generation X are most likely to buy a new car entirely online. She also let’s us know what gives new-vehicle buyers the most anxiety.
May 20, 2022 | Plug’n Drive’s Cara Clairman on EV demand, incentives and gas prices
Plug’n Drive CEO Cara Clairman says demand for electric vehicles has never been higher. She explains why electric-vehicle incentives work, and why they aren’t needed for much longer. She also tells us Canada needs fewer EV chargers than many of us think.
May 13, 2022 | David Kennedy on the race to replace Jerry Dias at Unifor
Automotive News Canada Toronto Bureau Chief David Kennedy has been covering the race to replace former Unifor president Jerry Dias, since he abruptly retired and found himself under investigation. Kennedy brings us up to speed on who’s in the race, what the next steps are, and when we’ll learn who will be the union’s next leader.
May 6, 2022 | Breaking down $13 billion worth of Canadian auto investment
Stellantis COO North America Mark Stewart, Unifor’s Danny Price, Flavio Volpe of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association and Brian Kingston, head of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, all weigh in on the recent explosion of auto investment in Canada.
April 29, 2022 | Canadian Black Book’s James Hancock: High used prices until 2026
Canadian Black Book’s James Hancock tells us which used vehicle segments are hot and which are not. He also explains why prices won’t return to pre-pandemic levels until 2026.
April 22, 2022 | Tim Dimopolous gives a detailed inside look at EV startup VinFast
Automotive News Canada Tim Dimopolous recently travelled to the VinFast assembly plant in Haiphong, Vietnam to get the story on how the electric-vehicle startup came to be. He also found a Canadian connection and discussed the automaker’s plan for Canada.
April 15, 2022 | David Adams breaks down the federal ZEV mandate
Global Automakers of Canada President David Adams talks about what’s right — and wrong — with the federal government’s zero-emissions vehicle sales mandate, offers up improvements and suggests ZEV rebates aren’t going to last forever.
April 8, 2022 | Sam Fiorani, Robert Karwel on Q1 sales, the luxury boom and chip crisis
Sam Fiorani of AutoForecast Solutions explains how the chip crisis has affected inventory of some of the best-selling vehicles in Canada while Robert Karwel of J.D. Power explains which vehicles people are buying, if they’re available.
April 1, 2022 | Vic Fedeli on Ontario's 1st EV battery plant and what it means to auto
Ontario Minister of Economic Development Vic Fedeli explains how his province landed an EV battery plant, what it means to the supply chain and to businesses, even those that aren't traditional players in the auto industry. He also promises “many, many, many more auto announcements to be made before the end of April.”
March 25, 2022 | CADA CEO Tim Reuss on top priorities, EVs and digital retailing
Tim Reuss, head of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association talks about what’s top of mind this year for his members coast to coast, how dealers are preparing of an electrified future and what that means for showrooms and upgrades.
March 18, 2022 | Google Canada’s Al-Karim Awadia on what Canadians are searching for
Al-Karim Awadia, Google Canada’s Head of Industry - Automotive, tells us what Canadians are searching for, what dealers need to do to seamlessly transition to digital retailing and looks at what lies ahead for automotive online.
March 11, 2022 | GM Canada’s David Paterson on the automaker’s $500M battery supply plant
David Paterson, GM Canada’s vice-president of corporate affairs, explains why General Motors chose Quebec to be home to its $500-million battery materials plant and talks about the key role Canada will play in the North American battery supply chain. He also says more Canadian announcements are coming.
March 4, 2022 | Jason Campbell: 'No doubt' 2023 Canadian International AutoShow is a go
Jason Campbell, general manager of the Canadian International AutoShow, says there is “no doubt” the 2023 show will go ahead as planned, post-COVID-19. And, he says it will have more experiential displays than in the past. Organizers took the time off to rethink what an auto show can and should be.
Feb. 25, 2022 | Brian Kingston, Flavio Volpe on high cost of Ambassador Bridge blockade
Brian Kingston of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association and Flavio Volpe of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association break down the monetary and political costs the six-day blockade of the Ambassador Bridge caused the Canadian auto industry. They also talk about how infrastructure changes on the horizon would make it more difficult for protesters to cause a similar disruption in the future.