2021 Automotive News Canada All-Stars

In a year of upheaval that has rocked the worldwide auto industry, AutoForecast Solutions (AFS), a U.S.-based global forecasting and consulting firm, provided critical data and analysis on production shutdowns caused by the ongoing microchip shortage.

Steered by AFS CEO Joe McCabe, and Sam Fiorani, vice-president, global vehicle forecasting, the company’s twice-weekly updates and responsiveness kept the industry abreast of an incredibly fluid situation.

Canadian plants have been particularly hard hit as North American automakers direct precious microchips toward assembly of their higher-margin vehicles. Domestic production was expected to fall more than 18 per cent this year  compared with 2020, while Mexico and the United States will see production edge up 0.4 per cent and five per cent, respectively, according to McCabe.