An electrifying show
Press Day at the 76th Montreal International Auto Show in January provided journalists with a glimpse of the transition the Canadian automotive industry is experiencing.
A combination of sports cars, luxury vehicles and utility models all made their respective debuts on January 17 at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal. The show was home to two North American premieres (the redesigned 2020 Genesis G90 and 2020 Kia Forte5), along with 33 Canadian premieres and several special or regional presentations — but the push for electric was the dominant theme this year.
EVs aplenty
There are 42 EVs on display this year. The 2019 BMW M340i and Jaguar I-PACE were among the show’s electrified Canadian premieres. Others included the new Lexus UX hybrid (a subcompact SUV geared towards urban dwellers), the Mitsubishi e-Evolution concept, the Kia Niro EV and Soul EV, and the longer-range Nissan Leaf Plus.
“I’ve called Nissan Canada home for over three years, and can confidently say there has never been a more exciting time for the brand,” said Joni Paiva, President of Nissan Canada.
As it stands, the Canadian government is investing $182.5 million in green infrastructure and clean technologies, and has partnered with several companies in the private sector to “support the demonstration and deployment of new charging stations for electric vehicles as well as refuelling stations for alternative fuels,” according to Natural Resources Canada.
Consumers in Quebec can also benefit from several incentives, such as enrolling in the Drive Electric program to receive up to $8,000 off the purchase or lease of an EV. And until March 31, consumers can buy a used all-electric car and receive a rebate of up to $4,000 as part of a used vehicles pilot project.
The EV message
Robert Poëti, President of the Corporation des concessionnaires d’automobiles du Québec (CCAQ), offered a few words at the event about the importance of EVs and of working together to attain a more environmentally-friendly future.
A combination of sports cars, luxury vehicles and utility models all made their respective debuts on January 17 at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal
With regards to the auto retail industry, he said: “We are not competing with each other, we are in competition with the needs of our citizens and the needs of our society, which we want to become greener, more ecological, and (we want) public transportation (to become) electric,” said Robert Poëti. These “will be our solutions — not for the future, but now.”
To help cement the overall message about EVs, the Montreal auto show created a new zone known as The Generator, which is dedicated to electric mobility and helping visitors learn more about electric products and services.
Representatives from various companies such as CAA-Quebec, Hydro-Québec, Équiterre, Flo, Le Circuit électrique and Déclic, are invited to offer presentations about various EV-related topics that touch on home charging, battery challenges, and myths and facts about EVs.
