According to the 2021 Global Automotive Consumer Study by Deloitte, 59 per cent of Canadian automotive consumers said they were interested in their next vehicle having a gasoline or diesel-powered engine, up from 46 per cent.

Many in the auto industry acknowledge that other sectors, such as including aviation, tourism and hospitality, have been hit harder by the COVID-19 pandemic and are therefore likely higher priorities for Ottawa as it looks to boost the Canadian economy.

Once we get back to normal, auto industry executives, dealers and labour leaders cannot let the lessons of the past year collect dust on a shelf.

Industry groups want the federal government to offer an incentive of around $3,000 per scrapped vehicle, an amount about 10 times larger than the government’s scrappage program, Retire Your Ride, which ran from 2009 to 2011.

Behind the scenes, officials are pursuing the idea of creating an integrated North American hub.

GM and FCA plan to make new hires in the coming years as part of billion-dollar investments in their factories. Meanwhile, "there are always opportunities" at dealerships, says Mississauga Toyota CEO Susan Gubasta. 

Also as part of the 2021 budget, the government is committing $400 million over four years to create the Invest Ontario Fund, which is designed to encourage investments in the sectors of advanced manufacturing, technology and life sciences. 

Since the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) went into effect July 1, the United States has interpreted provisions on how regional content is calculated differently from what was originally agreed upon by the three signatory countries, said David Adams, president of the Global Automakers of Canada.

Some customers who would normally buy a new car might instead buy a used one if their new vehicle of choice isn’t available, or they might delay a purchase entirely.

The global microchip shortage has already cost automakers some Canadian production. Now, the problem could start affected the service lane.

Auto executives on both sides of the border are asking President Joe Biden's administration to alter his predecessor's stringent interpretation of North American trade provisions.

GM currently offers the gasoline-powered Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans, which have not been redesigned since they were introduced in 1995.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his province — and Canada as a whole — could become leaders in battery manufacturing. And multibillion-dollar plans by the Detroit Three to build electric vehicles at their Ontario plants mean Canada will soon have EV assembly.

Dealership deals continue to thrive despite the pandemic and slumping sales. 

Four Ottawa students were inspired by the nation’s natural beauty and ideals to design what could become the world’s first all-Canadian zero-emission concept vehicle.