2022 Canadians to Watch

CHOSEN BECAUSE:

From Magna International headquarters in Aurora, Ont., Todd Deaville, 48, oversees a global team helping to shape the future of automotive technology.

Working closely with startups, investment firms and university researchers, Deaville and a team at the supplier prove promising technologies with applications in vehicles or within automotive manufacturing.

Projects range from printable, vehicle-mounted solar cells to 3D printing techniques powered by artificial intelligence.

“We’re always kind of saying, ‘OK what’s unique here, what’s really interesting, what does it mean for Magna and the industry overall?’”

Not all new ideas find real-world applications, Deaville said, but those clearing the proof-of-concept stage earn engagement from a wider team at Magna and ultimately could help reshape the industry.

IN HIS OWN WORDS:

“By 2030, 40 to 50 per cent [of Magna's business will] probably be in the electrified market. The other side of that, of course, is then there’s 50 or 60 per cent that’s not, and so how do you manage that? With what’s going on in the world today around supply chains, energy management and all of that, it’s going to be interesting and challenging. We’re going to be bringing a whole bunch of tools to bear to get through this period.”