Greg Layson

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.

Stellantis now says it will resume production of minivans at its factory in Windsor, Ont., on Sept. 27, just days after saying it would idle production there.

Stellantis has added another week of downtime at its minivan plant in Windsor, Ont., due to the ongoing global shortage of semiconductors.

Volvo Canada has partnered with Canadian shoemaker Casca footwear to launch a limited-edition sneaker inspired by the all-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge and made with recycled material.

Hyundai Canada says it will return to consumer auto shows, starting with the Drive Festival, with runs Sept. 10-12 at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ont.

Steele Auto Group continues to expand in Eastern Canada with the purchase of Vantage Motors Volkswagen, of Truro, N.S., a transaction that was a dying wish of the store’s late owner.

Luxury brands were the big winners in August for automakers that still report monthly sales. Acura, Genesis, Lexus and Volvo all posted gains last month while Subaru was the only mainstream brand to do the same.

Network services were previously provided by AT&T, which remains GM’s connected-services provider in the United States, a GM Canada spokesperson said.

Canadian dealership group Pfaff Automotive Partners, of Toronto, has been acquired by U.S.-based Lithia Motors, confirming news of the imminent deal first reported by Automotive News Canada in July.

Volkswagen Canada will provide three years of unlimited, complimentary ultra-fast charging for its new all-electric 2021 VW ID4.

Toyota appears to have weathered the storm better than any other automaker. The company sold 23,845 new vehicles, a July record and up 19.4 per cent over the same month a year ago. Sales were also up 10 per cent over July 2019, well before COVID-19.

The federal government says the investment will support 80 jobs, leverage more than $6.6 million in other funding, support at least 40 automotive suppliers and technology firms, and generate $50 million in additional investment.

New-vehicle sales in July fell nearly six per cent compared with the same month a year ago, according to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, which said “normalcy remained an elusive goal” in the industry as semiconductor and inventory shortages continue.

Atlantic Canada's largest dealership groups said on Tuesday that it will open four new All EV Canada locations the region. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s blueprint has been called many things, such as a goal, target, vision, ambition and mandate. What it has yet to be called is a law.