Blair Qualey, president and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of B.C., is pitching
the province as an ideal spot for manufacturing.
“Due to its location, B.C. is ideally suited to capture more manufacturing and distribution outlets due to being positioned near the Asian gateway and close to the U.S. Pacific West Coast,” said Qualey.
“We hope to continue urging manufacturers to take a look at B.C. and make an investment,” he said, adding that Vancouver has port facilities that could accommodate the transfer of goods at international airports that already accommodate executives of Asian and U.S. car manufacturers coming to Canada.
“I think it is high on our agenda to go forward and grow this sector globally,” he said. “Synergies can be created,” Qualey remarked, “by having strong, automotive manufacturing and distribution sectors in B.C. with their participation in events such as the Vancouver International Auto Show and at the NCDA of B.C.’s industry conferences.”
The recent opening of Mazda’s new Western Regional Operations and Parts Distribution Centre (PDC), a 125,000-square-foot facility located in the Township of Langley, is an example of how auto dealers are turning to B.C., he said.
The facility will supply parts to 37 dealers in B.C. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as provide a facility for training service technicians. It will also serve as the Western Canadian office for Mazda Canada.
Prior to the opening of the new distribution centre, parts arrived from Japan via container
vessels at Deltaport Terminal in B.C and then were shipped to the Ontario PDC, repackaged and sent back to Western Canadian dealers.
Another example Qualey cited was the recently-opened Mercedes-Benz fuel cell production and technology development facility in Burnaby, just outside Vancouver.
Qualey said he will look at “any opportunity” that comes at industry conferences or trade missions to advance B.C. as a location for more manufacturers and distributors which will, in turn, “empower our dealers.”
