Jeff Melnychuk

It’s no exaggeration to say that when Windsor was approached by LG Energy early last year about establishing an EV battery plant, Invest WindsorEssex merely dropped a folder on desk and said, “Here you go.”

The pandemic has dealt emotional blows to every Canadian, and the mask is a symbol of that. Retailers need to be cautious of how they handle customers as mask mandates end.

The suppliers that carve out an electric future won’t be free and clear, though. They’ll still be subject to the pressures of rising prices, semiconductor shortages, trade conflicts, future pandemics and bridge blockades. They need some government support.

It’s entirely possible that the top automotive news story of 2022 has already happened: GM Canada hired 1,200 people to reboot the Oshawa Assembly Plant, and about half were women.

A combination of automakers focusing production on high-margin vehicles amid the global microchip shortage, consumers sitting on stacks of pandemic cash, and a looming federal levy on vehicle purchases of $100,000 or more is leading to a surge in luxury sales.

There are more women in influential positions, and there are more people of colour, on the latest list of Canadian to Watch.

The need for public education is no surprise, but it’s anyone’s guess just how wide that knowledge gap is. And that’s where the industry needs to focus.

According to the budget, the amount of tax is the lesser of 10 per cent of the full value of the vehicle, or 20 per cent of the value above $100,000.

One could argue that if electricity is taxed then EV owners are already paying a “fuel tax” for charging their vehicles.

The Quebec dealers’ association has laid out a detailed health and safety framework for dealerships to reopen their service departments — which were deemed an essential service April 15 — providing a glimpse of the new normal for retail operations nationwide. 

Being terrified isn’t much of a plan for a data breach, nor is doing nothing, but if the “aha!” moment is realizing that a breach is inevitable, you have a chance to control the outcome. 

Is a Mustang purist going to buy a Mach-E? Not likely, and that’s what makes it brilliant marketing. 

The Canadians to Watch share one thing: They point the way to the future of the auto industry.