“The Road Ahead: Envisioning Canada’s Automotive Landscape” – The Globe and Mail

This summary of the event was created by the Events Team at The Globe and Mail. The editorial staff of The Globe was not involved in its creation.

The year 2024 looks promising for both car manufacturers and drivers as issues with supply chains continue to improve. However, new challenges such as rising interest rates and increased consumer costs are emerging. The adoption of electric vehicles is growing, necessitating adjustments in Canada’s automotive workforce, ecosystem, and required skills.

As the technology in vehicles develops, important questions around data ownership and privacy are also coming to the forefront. What impact will these developments have on car makers and consumers?

The Globe and Mail organized its fourth annual Future of Automotive summit on February 13, which featured a mix of industry experts, consumers, and technological innovators discussing the future of automobility in Canada.

If you missed the live event or wish to revisit it, please see the video replay link below.

Jordan Chittley, Globe Drive editor at The Globe and Mail, co-hosted the summit alongside Petrina Gentile, automotive journalist and contributor at The Globe and Mail.

The event kicked off with Gentile interviewing key figures such as Stephen Beatty, corporate vice president at Toyota Canada, and Dan Guatto, director of business consulting and energy transition at EY Canada, discussing the current trends and challenges in the adoption of electric vehicles in Canada, including issues related to EV charging infrastructure, vehicle costs, and market development.

Chittley then led a panel discussing the dynamics of vehicle pricing, leasing terms, and cost trends involving:

• Yolanda Biswah, president of Canadian Black Book
• Baris Akyurek, vice president of marketing intelligence at AutoTrader

Data privacy and security in the context of increasingly connected vehicles were also a key focus. As vehicles become technologically advanced, they gather more data, highlighting the need for strong legislative measures and cybersecurity solutions. This part of the discussion featured Fahed Hassanat, co-founder and COO at Sensor Cortek, and Ruth Promislow, a partner at Bennett Jones LLP.

Addressing the transition to cleaner automotive technologies, another panel discussed the importance of new skills and innovation in the auto industry, especially involving Indigenous communities and their role in clean energy initiatives. This panel was moderated by Ms. Gentile and included:

• Dr. Narayan C. Kar, director at the Centre for Hybrid Automotive Research & Green Energy (CHARGE) at the University of Windsor
• Jessica Tait, manager of sustainable transportation at Indigenous Clean Energy
• Meena Bibra, senior policy advisor on clean transportation at Clean Energy Canada

  View the full video replay below.

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  The event was presented by The Globe and Mail with sponsorship from Toyota Canada.

  To discover more about The Globe and Mail’s upcoming events, visit www.globeandmail.com/events.