Event summary produced by The Globe and Mail Events team. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.
Automakers and drivers in Canada continue to navigate tight vehicle inventory related to supply chain issues. Canada is also embarking on a mass transition from internal combustion engines to battery electric and other low-carbon powertrains. On Feb. 13, The Globe and Mail hosted its third annual Future of Automotive summit, looking at what technological advancements, market developments and supply challenges mean for drivers, dealerships, automakers and the future of driving in Canada.
Globe Drive contributing writer, Petrina Gentile and Joe McCabe, president and CEO of AutoForecast Solutions, kicked off the program with a discussion on vehicle inventory.
Gentile was then joined by Anthony Patriarca, eMobility leader at EY Canada, Stephen Beatty, vice-president of corporate at Toyota Canada and Carla Bailo, president and CEO of ECOS Consulting LLC. The group discussed the process of buying an e-vehicle in Canada, and navigating rebates, cost and inventory.
Globe and Mail climate change columnist and feature writer, Adam Radwanski, then took over hosting duties, interviewing Thierry Spiess, deputy director for on-road transportation at Natural Resources Canada. Spiess shared his insights on how Canada’s e-vehicle charging infrastructure is developing.
Globe Drive editor, Jordan Chittley, wrapped up the day’s program with two interviews. The first with Mitra Mirhassani, the co-director of the SHIELD Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence and a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Windsor. Their discussion focused on the cybersecurity of vehicles in today’s connected world.
Next, Chittley concluded the day’s program by interviewing Ajay Kochhar, the CEO of Li-Cycle, on what happens to e-vehicle batteries at end-of-life.
View the full webcast here:
The Globe and Mail presented the event with sponsor support from Toyota Canada. The event included a representative from Toyota Canada.