Big enough to make a difference
As I write this, some of the U.S. tariffs aimed at Canada are temporarily on hold. What’s next? Things will continue to evolve on that front. That’s about all we know. There are so many lenses to aim at what’s …
Category: Publisher’s letter
Strange and concurrent realities
We’ve just come off my favourite weeks in the automotive calendar. The second week of February includes the CADA Summit, media day at the Canadian International AutoShow and VIP night, perhaps the most concentrated networking event of the year. It …
Year-end musings
My last publisher’s note of the year. Another year in which it’s been my great pleasure to work in and contribute to this amazing industry. So what’s on my radar at year end? I’m just back from the Los Angeles …
A little bit of, well, a number of things
Iattended the Empowering Automotive conference last week in Toronto. Empowering Automotive has the mission to recruit, retain, and grow women and their allies in the auto industry. They seek to accomplish this through the annual flagship conference, mentoring, student outreach, …
It starts and ends with you
Yes, the industry is facing a wide range of changes. From ICE to EV, new retail business models, new brands, new technologies shaping (and sometimes threatening) your businesses, the pace of change on all fronts is greater than it’s ever …
Striking a balance
I was interviewed by the CBC recently for a story focused on what might seem to be competing goals: On the one hand, protecting domestic automotive manufacturing in Canada; on the other hand, supporting the drive to go green and …
Remembering Ron Porter
I received some sad news on May 15. As many of you will now know, Ron E. Porter, former SVP Automotive Finance at Scotiabank died at age 71. Ron was a true automotive guy. He spent over 30 years at …
What to do about AI?
I was having lunch a couple of weeks ago with the head of a dealer group whose company I very much enjoy, and whose views I very much respect. We have lunches like this every so often, just to trade notes on what’s going …
The event you really can’t miss
CADA Summit is the can’t miss calendar event for dealers, and increasingly for OEMs and suppliers who want to know what the auto retail industry is really going through. I’ve been to every CADA Summit and have always had an …
Absorbing CES and Autovate
I’m finally back in the office. It feels like I’ve been travelling since the beginning of December — simply because I have been. But it’s been worth it, and I thought I’d share a few key takeaways that may have relevance …
A tale of two cities, sort of…
Ok, I’ll say it right up front: I would not call Lake Louise, Alberta, a city. It is, however, a great spot for a dealer conference. A significant chunk of the dealer community clearly agrees, based on the record attendance …
A chat with U.S. Analyst Cliff Banks
I’ve saved myself some typing this month. My publisher’s note is a multimedia experience this issue. I was invited to join U.S auto industry analyst Cliff Banks as his guest on his video podcast. Cliff has been at the heart …
