Steve Mertl Vancouver Correspondent for Automotive News Canada [email protected] (604) 551-8653 Vancouver Correspondent See All Staff Page Recent Stories B.C. expands training for EV technicians to meet demand for green vehicles The government is contributing $440,000 through its CleanBC Go Electric Program in partnership with Trades Training BC (a consortium of post-secondary institutions created to promote trades training) to extend the EV tech-training program. Why dealers are wading into the murky waters of cryptocurrency Cryptocurrency has grown steadily as a legitimate medium of exchange despite most consumers’ limited understanding of it — money that exists only as bytes on a computer hard drive — and its sometimes murky reputation as a haven for shady dealing. Indian parts maker PCI announces Canadian expansion No location has yet been chosen for the operation, PCI founder and Managing Director Nirantar Kumar Dhupar, told Automotive News Canada. The government is helping with site selection. Where are all the hydrogen fuel cell cars? The zero-emission technology has been touted as the future, but little progress on refuelling infrastructure has been made. Jimmy Pattison, now 92, still eyeing and buying dealerships The pandemic has altered some aspects of consumer spending, but Jim Pattison says: "We’ve never seen business better in the car business right now." Subaru Crosstrek refresh includes bigger engine for top trims Subaru added a new Outdoor package, bringing the total number of trim levels to seven (three manual-transmission, four CVT automatic). Outdoor falls between the Touring and Sport trims. Canadian EV maker ElectraMecannica starts output in China The single-seat all-electric Solo, to be sold in the United States and starting at US$18,500, has been in development for about five years and undergone steady refinement as it approached commercial production. Seeds of subscription services being sown in Canada Subscription services are new to the auto sector, and the jury’s still out on whether they’re a paying proposition. All new vehicles sold in B.C. by 2040 must be ZEVs, but how? The proposed policy would gradually lift the standard from 10 per cent of light-vehicle sales by 2025 to 100 per cent by 2040. The government also would bolster buyer incentives and fund expansion of rapid-recharging stations. Inside Honda Canada's extensive campaign to track down defective Takata airbags Owners reluctant to have their defective airbags replaced have slowed Honda Canada's recall blitz. Many Canadians brush off replacements, even when the automaker's technicians offer to do the work in the owner's driveway. Honda wants recall notices to be part of registration renewals Honda also wants repair work to be completed before affected vehicles can be registered to a new owner. Vancouver group launches luxury subscription service OpenRoad Auto Group is launching what it says is Canada's first multi-brand luxury car subscription service, featuring 25 models from nine of the Vancouver dealer group's 19 brands. Canada could be on an emissions collision course with the U.S. Canada could find itself drawn into the tussle over U.S. emissions standards if a review of current regulation leads to their relaxation. National ZEV strategy coming, but Ottawa re-canvassing provinces Transport Canada says some “breathing space” is needed to reassess an upcoming national ZEV strategy while the federal government hopes the plan will still be unveiled before the end of 2018. National EV incentive program could cost billions, study finds The Canadian government would need to spend billions of dollars if federal incentives were used to reach an"'aspirational goal" of seeing electric vehicles comprise 30 per cent of all new-vehicle sales. Load More
Steve Mertl Vancouver Correspondent for Automotive News Canada [email protected] (604) 551-8653 Vancouver Correspondent See All Staff Page