One solution to the looming skills shortage is for the auto industry to partner with more post-secondary institutions to tap into new labour pools, including underrepresented groups like women and indigenous Canadians, says an expert from Royal Bank of Canada.

Physical dealerships and the customer relationship will remain important to auto retail even as the industry experiments with new ways of generating sales, say Canadian auto executives. But, disrupters such as Tesla threaten the traditional business model.

Canadian auto dealers need to be ready to meet the needs of younger, tech savvy consumers or risk being left behind, says the head of a leading provider of e-commerce solutions for the auto industry.

While Don Walker is optimistic about what the USMCA free-trade pact could mean for Canada, he also has some warnings. If the content rules are too complicated or if wages rise too quickly in Mexico as a result of the new trade pact, supply work could go overseas where it might still be cheaper.