Automotive News Canada - April 2021-v2 - 11

* APRIL 2021

CO
2 emissions
Pounds per U.S. gallon burned

Gasoline 19.6
Diesel
22.4
Jet fuel 21.1

One gallon of gasoline weighs about
6.3 pounds. The CO2 produced is about
triple the original weight because burning
hydrocarbons adds oxygen to form CO2.
S O U R C E : U . S . E N E R G Y I N F O R M AT I O N A D M I N I S T R AT I O N

The car isn't going to
die, but driving seems
destined to decline
SHOULD CARS BE BANNED IN
cities?
For a growing number of
jurisdictions across the globe,
the answer is yes.
That's probably not an
answer anyone reading this
wants to hear. This industry,
after all, depends on the mass
consumption of vehicles.
But banning or severely limiting the use of
vehicles in
IN CANADA'S VIEW
major markets
is an idea that
appears to be
gaining some
IRWIN
traction, both
in Europe and
even in car-centric North
America.
In December, Montreal
unveiled a 10-year climate plan
that included measures such as
removing parking near Metro
stations and
EV adoption encouraging
businesses to
deliver goods
is one part
using bicycles.
of cutting
The New York
emissions;
Times recently
had a story
driving less
about
also makes
Heidelberg,
an immediate Germany, and its
mayor's push to
impact.
discourage automobile use. The
city is relying on zero-emission
buses, bicycle " superhighways "
and neighbourhoods designed
with walkability top of mind.
Adoption of electric vehicles
is " low on the list of tools " the
city is using to become emissions-free, the Times reported,
and Heidelberg's mayor " is not
terribly impressed " by automakers' EV plans.
The story came just days
after one of the Times' opinion
columnists, Farhad Manjoo,
wrote off the idea of using electrification as a major weapon in
fighting climate change. " The
problem isn't just gas-fueled
cars but car-fueled lives - a
view of the world in which huge
private automobiles are the
default method of getting
around, " Manjoo wrote in a Feb.
18 column.
Indeed, the United States
and, to a lesser extent, Canada
have been car-dependent for
decades. That means millions of
vehicles driving on roadways
every day with the vast majority
being powered by gasoline for
years to come - even if all

JOHN

new-vehicle sales were to magically become totally electric
overnight.
So, encouraging people to
drive less now - by banning
cars from certain parts of big
cities, by investing in mass transit, by designing walkable neighbourhoods, etc. - makes a lot
of sense as a way to tackle climate change. Plus, less driving
would mean
fewer accidents and
deaths and
less congested
city centres.
As the
Times coverage and Montreal's climate plan
show, such ideas are being
espoused by decision-makers
and opinion-shapers this side of
the Atlantic. The auto industry
should brace for the impact
those policies could have on
their businesses.
None of this is to dismiss
electrification efforts outright,
nor is it to say that a carless
future is inevitable. Indeed, as
Bloomberg columnist Noah
Smith noted in a March 9 blog,
" Cars are going to be a huge
part of American transportation
long beyond the point where we
need to halt climate change in
its tracks. " The same would go
for Canada.
Smith, an ardent supporter
of efficient transit, says he really
doesn't like cars. But they aren't
going away, he said. Even
Japan, which relies on trains to
move people around more than
any other country, relies on
using vehicles. Smith noted that
Japan has about 718 vehicles
owned per 1,000 people. That
compares with 875 in the
United States and 667 in
Canada.
So car ownership isn't about
to fade away anytime soon. But
the frequency of driving as well
as private vehicle ownership?
That might be on the decline as
policymakers address climate
change in the coming years.

Using pressure as fuel to achieve
THERE HAS LIKELY NEVER BEEN
a more transformative time in the
Canadian automotive industry.
Uncertainty in the face of
COVID-19 lockdowns in March of
2020 slowly gave way to optimism and intense investment
when it comes to automotive
assembly and development in
this country.
We pivoted fast at every level
to become a centre of excellence
in the global drive toward electrification and autonomous vehicles.
Initiatives such as the Arrow concept - a rolling showcase of
Canadian technology by the
Automotive Parts Manufacturers'
Association - and GM Canada's
McLaughlin Advanced Technology
Track in Oshawa, Ont., which

MANAGING DIRECTOR/
PUBLISHER

TIM
DIMOPOULOS
tests autonomous technologies,
would have been a pipe dream a
few short years ago. They're now
proof of the brilliance and adaptability of the Canadian auto
industry.
Meanwhile, dealers have
proved their resilience, adapting
their businesses to complex supply problems while at the same
time accelerating the integration
of innovative digital retailing tools
to address a fundamentally

changing consumer experience.
Time and time again, the
industry has risen to the challenges thrown in front of it.
From its inception five years
ago, Automotive News Canada
has been firmly committed to
engaging, informing and connecting the industry as it transforms.
Now, more than ever, the imperative is to inform, share stories,
provide in-depth analysis of the
challenges to come and celebrate success.
As the new managing director/
publisher for Canada, it's an honour to become part of that commitment and a privilege to be
immersed in the automotive
community as it continues to
evolve. - ANC

Dealer: Volvo's online shift is 'very concerning'
CONTINUED FROM PA GE 6

that consumers want. They are ahead of the
game in technology. "
He takes issue with Volvo's online push -
which creates profit and revenue uncertainty -
as well as the launch of the Polestar EV that cuts
out dealers.
" They have alienated in Canada, I think we
are [36] dealers. In the States they have alienated
over [280] dealers. "
Mass selling of vehicles directly by an automaker would be complicated and difficult, said
Martins, who is part of the dealer team working
on the new franchise agreement with Volvo. He
does not believe the automaker wants to assume
the dealer role in North America.
" Don't forget, we have to sell cars for them.
So, if our sales go into the tank because the cus-

McMillan:
Volvo's
online push
is alienating
dealers on both
sides of the
border.
SUPPLIED PHOTO

tomers don't want to do it this
way, then we have to switch
gears and have another plan. "
Tim Reuss, CEO of the
Canadian Automobile Dealers
Association, said he does not
think the shift to digital auto
sales should be viewed as " a
dealer-versus-factory " development.
" The move to online has
been going on for quite some
time, on sales, and quite
frankly a lot of dealers have
been at the forefront of that,
of digitalizing a lot of the
sales processes and so this is
not something new or something overnight. " - ANC

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- ANC

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Automotive News Canada - April 2021-v2

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