General Motors dominated the Canadian automotive headlines this week, connected to four of the five most-read articles. But the news Canada was going to slap tariffs on electric-vehicles made in China was the most-read story of the week.
Here's a quick rundown of stories that were our top five by reader interest the week of Aug. 26.
1. Duties on China-made EVs
The BYD Shark is a small pickup made by the Chinese automaker and currently available in Mexico.
Canada will follow suit with other Western countries in imposing hefty tariffs on China-made electric vehicles imported to Canada, as it seeks to protect both its auto manufacturing base and recent investments in a homegrown battery-supply chain.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Halifax Aug. 26 that the federal government will impose additional 100-per-cent tariffs on China-made EVs and hybrids, a massive increase to the 6.1-per-cent federal surtax that imports from the Asian country face today.
2. Unifor prepared to strike
Unifor is prepared to strike GM at its CAMI plant, if necessary.
Unifor members at General Motors’ CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ont. voted overwhelmingly Aug. 25 to approve a strike mandate, as bargaining teams from the union and automaker prepare for contract talks in September.
The routine strike-authorization vote positions roughly 1,200 members of Unifor Local 88 to strike, if the two sides fail to reach an agreement when the current three-year contract expires on Sept. 17 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
3. GM workers drive EV conversation
The Cadillac Lyriq was among the vehicles GM Canada employees got to test drive.
GM Canada organized an event for its staff at the McLaughlin Advanced Technology Track in Oshawa, Ont., to sample the company’s EVs. About 1,000 salaried employees from GM Canada’s Oshawa and Markham campuses cycled through the program. They drove Chevrolet’s Equinox and Blazer crossovers, the Silverado EV pickup, Cadillac Lyriq and upcoming Escalade IQ crossovers, as well as the Corvette E-Ray hybrid and BrightDrop electric commercial vehicle.
The event was an opportunity to get “seats in seats” and for staff to become GM EV ambassadors, GM said.
4. Chevy Equinox gets a redesign
The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox.
With a redesign that packages more technology into a truck-like profile for 2025, the brand sees an opportunity for Equinox to take share from rivals.
Scott Bell, vice president of global Chevrolet, said he would put the fourth-generation Equinox up against any rival for its updated exterior design and interior technology.
5. BrightDrop to become Chevy models
BrightDrop vans are made in Canada.
General Motors' electric commercial van brand, BrightDrop, will become part of Chevrolet as the automaker aims to capitalize on a larger dealership network and land new fleet customers.
The reorganization will make BrightDrop, which GM launched as a subsidiary in 2021, a nameplate within the company's highest-volume brand. Its vehicles — the Zevo 400 and 600, which are numbered by their approximate cargo space — will be rebranded as the Chevrolet BrightDrop 400 and 600 starting with the 2025 model year, the automaker said Aug. 29. Both vehicles will continue to be built at GM's CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario.
