Jim Witham, CEO of GaN Systems, would not specify the precise value of the BMW deal, nor could he share which models the automaker planned to use the transistors in. But the agreement, which will put BMW at the front of the line for the company’s new transistors, is part of an industry-wide shift toward lining up a steady supply of components well in advance, he said.

A key gap in the online car-shopping shopping process — digital credit applications and approvals — appears to be closing, answering the demands of Canadian dealers seeking to satisfy what they see as a growing appetite for completely virtual transactions.

Quebec is looking to gain a foothold in a global transportation industry being transformed by electrification and self-driving technology, including becoming a battery powerhouse.

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