Nissan Canada President Joni Paiva, 50, will oversee the automaker’s marketing and sales in Africa, the Middle East and India after three years leading its Canadian operations. Steve Milette, Nissan Canada vice-president of sales operations, will succeed Paiva.

Investments by the auto sector in autonomous technology are paying dividends for the once-struggling smartphone company.

The auto industry needs more programmers trained in cybersecurity, say BlackBerry executives. Partnerships with universities — even assisting with the curriculum — can help.

Unifor President Jerry Dias has struck a defiant tone in the wake of the Ontario labour board’s ruling that the union engaged in unlawful strikes at General Motors’ Oshawa Assembly Plant and its suppliers. Dias says further strikes are “absolutely” still on the table. 

Ford dealers hope newly appointed Canada CEO Dean Stoneley — who is a Canadian — will remain at the helm longer than his predecessor, especially as the company undergoes a US $11-billion global restructuring and revamps its product lineup.

Roadsport Honda in Scarborough, Ont., has responded to a diverse community, creating a "comfort level" that draws in new Canadians.

The move would bolster the appeal of Fiat Chrysler’s premium minivan and provide competition for the Toyota Sienna, now the only minivan sold in Canada with the traction-enhancing feature.

As some dealers make preparations for a digital future a top priority, they view mandated store renovations as just a facade. They want automakers to invest in technology, not bricks and mortar. Automakers counter that the digital age has made it crucial for stores to be modern.

“We are not pushing the technology as much as we’re pushing the outcomes — reducing greenhouse gasses," says Navdeep Bains, Canada’s economic development minister.

Toyota Canada President Larry Hutchinson expects the upcoming hybrid version of the RAV4 to make up more than 20 per cent of the crossover's total sales. A new platform, a new sport model, and value will be key drivers, he says. 

As the new North American trade pact awaits ratification, automakers are examining how the deal’s content and labour requirements might affect how they source their parts. In Canada, it could be the Japan-based automakers that have the biggest decisions to make with their supply chains. 

Canadian industry executives gathered in Toronto for the Canadian International AutoShow grappled with the future of auto shows, which they said are becoming more retail-oriented and less focused on flashy reveals and media event.

The closure of competitors’ plants in Canada can have “cascading effects” on Ford Motor Co.’s operations in the region, said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of global operations. He said they create trust issues and make people "fight even harder not to lose something else."

Royal Bank's Drive app is designed to help users better manage their vehicles while connecting them with dealers, RBC Chief Strategy and Corporate Development officer Michael Dobbins says.

The Ontario government on Thursday released its plan to support the automotive sector, promising to assist suppliers, boost high-tech skills training and revamp how the province attracts investments.