Rob Bostelaar Ottawa Correspondent for Automotive News Canada [email protected] (613) 828-1742 See All Staff Page Recent Stories Ambassador Bridge blockade fallout: U.S. companies more likely to head home A major international border — and the auto industry — was taken hostage for nearly a week by a small group of protesters, calling into question the reliability of Canada’s supply chain. Supply chain issues to be tackled by new federal task force Transport Minister Alghabra said Monday the government will establish a task force with industry experts to identify roadblocks and find ways to speed the movement of goods. It also will direct $50 million from the National Trade Corridors Fund toward easing port congestion. Quebec vaccine passport rules anger some auto dealers who say they're unfair Quebec auto retailers are protesting new rules that require larger dealerships to bar customers who lack proof of vaccination while smaller dealerships are still able to open their doors to everyone despite their vaccine status. Canadian suppliers try to reconnect with U.S. customers after years of border trouble As parts flow increases across the open international border, there’s uncertainty as to how Canadian and U.S. businesses stand with each other. BlackBerry at CES pitching Ivy platform as a player in intelligent vehicle field Announced in December 2020, Ivy is BlackBerry's bid to be as big a player in intelligent vehicle communications as it long was in vehicle infotainment systems. The platform collects and interprets data from dozens of sensors in a modern car and oversees the flow of information between vehicle, manufacturer and service providers. Multiple suppliers in Ontario announce upgrades to meet EV demand The Canadian division of Tokyo-based global manufacturer THK says it will spend $27 million to expand a plant in Tillsonburg, Ont., and add automated machining and assembly centres. The project is expected to add 65 jobs in Tillsonburg and another 35 at a THK plant in St. Catharines, Ont. The company said the plants will supply steering and linkage components for upcoming projects at Toyota and Ford. Most of auto industry, including vehicles themselves, vulnerable to hacking While thefts of high-end automobiles get most of the attention, security experts warn that much of the industry’s exposure lies below the surface. Ford building $95-million parts centre near Ottawa, say union, developer Ford of Canada will open a $95-million parts distribution centre near Ottawa as part of a plan to close a Toronto-area depot and transfer operations to eastern and western Ontario, according to a developer and the union representing workers at the current facility. No-haggle pricing embraced by some retailers as COVID quickens change Customers also expect to find on dealer websites the same pricing specifics they would see for a yoga mat on Amazon, or, for that matter, for a Model 3 from Tesla, which from its 2008 start has operated with fixed prices. Would Canadian dealers be willing to become brand agents? With online sales and EVs, being paid a fee per vehicle sold might already be in the cards. But there are other key issues, according to CADA. BlackBerry and partner Car IQ look to turn cars into mobile 'wallets' Canadian software specialist BlackBerry is joining forces with a U.S. firm in the race to turn cars into mobile "wallets" that will automatically pay parking fees and bridge tolls and even collect payments for ride-sharing and parcel delivery. Why too many incompatible software systems are a key obstacle to digital sales Online shopping should be a seamless experience, but the various automaker and dealer programs complicate that. Car retailing goes digital, and there's no turning back The industry's pandemic-hastened embrace of e-commerce has shown that remote selling is possible – and for many dealers, profitable. BlackBerry's market share has eroded, but QNX’s trump card could be security One analyst thinks QNX software will remain a top choice for automakers in need of a strong, secure platform for car operations — and one they maintain control over — even as they let Google move into infotainment with a consumer-friendly platform that might not be especially secure. Industry still looking to fortify supply lines a year into COVID-19 Numerous automakers have had to idle plants because of a lack of semiconductors for today’s tech-heavy vehicles, but metals and chemicals have also become sought-after commodities as manufacturers broaden their hunt for materials. Load More
Rob Bostelaar Ottawa Correspondent for Automotive News Canada [email protected] (613) 828-1742 See All Staff Page