Automotive News Canada - July 2021 - 10

10
07.21
OPINION
Canadians to Watch:
Diversity, and diverse
A rapidly changing
and technologydriven
industry
has no ceiling
for opportunities.
THE BEST PART OF SELECTING
the 2021 Canadians to Watch
is seeing an increasingly diverse
group. There are more women
in influential positions, and
there are more people of colour.
What's equally interesting is
the diversity of their roles. Many
are in cutting-edge technical
fields, showcasing both the
depth of the auto industry in
Canada and the depth of the
bench that churns out rising
stars such as Paran Hilbi from
Stellantis. In five years, the
31-year-old progressed from a
data analyst to a resident engineering
lead
in charge of
the 2021
Chrysler
Pacifica
refresh and
AWD launch
in Windsor,
Ont.
She also
co-leads the co-op program
with the University of Windsor,
building a pipeline of talent that
leads straight to Stellantis.
Of course electric vehicles
have opened up a whole new
realm of career possibilities for
Canadians with a passion for
math and science. Soroush
Nazarpour leads Quebec-based
NanoXplore on a quest to use
graphene powder to make batteries
more energy dense and
charge more quickly. Batteries
form the new powertrain for
vehicles and Canada has the
raw resources and the talent to
be a major player. For graphene,
NanoXplore is in a joint venture
with Canadian auto-supplier
giant Martinrea. If successful,
that could lead to the country's
first " megabattery factory. "
Nazarpour, 36, says,
" Graphene is something that
can actually change the way
people live. "
And then there's Philip
Asante, who joined GM in 2018
after beginning his career at
aerospace companies such as
Lockheed Martin. He's 32 and
on a team at General Motors
Nazarpour
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
JEFF
MELNYCHUK
developing hardware and software
for the automaker's Super
Cruise driver-assist system,
which is expected to be on 22
vehicles by
2023.
Hilbi
He believes
that if the technology
gets to
the point where
a driver is no
longer needed,
" just imagine
how that would
change our
lives. "
There are
Asante
other Canadians
to Watch, whom
you can meet
beginning on
Page 13, but
the point is that
a career in the
auto industry
can rival one in
aerospace, and
you can be a
young female
engineer in
charge of a product revamp,
such as the Pacifica. And you
can be altruistic and try to make
a better world with revolutionary
technology that really matters to
society.
In the auto industry today,
you can be - or do - just
about anything you want, and
the challenge for companies is
to shout it from the rooftops so
the brightest and best
Canadians from all backgrounds
have a home they might not
have otherwise considered.
As employers continue the
critical task of narrowing the
gender and race gaps, the
2021 Canadians to Watch show
that it's an incredibly exciting
time to be part of the industry.
- ANC
FRENCH POET ANTOINE
de Saint-Exupéry's famous
quote that " a goal without a
plan is just a wish " perfectly
describes the federal government's
hope to get consumers
purchasing only zero-emission
vehicles by 2035.
I've heard Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau's blueprint called
many things, such as a goal,
target, vision, ambition and
mandate. What I have yet to
hear it called is a law.
Ottawa hasn't yet passed
legislation banning the sale of
vehicles powered by the internal-combustion
engine.
On June 29, the federal government
said its goal is now to
have 100 per
cent of new
light-duty vehicle
sales be of
the zero-emissions
variety
five years earlier
than the
original target
of 2040.
When I
Reaching a
2035 ZEV
goal would
be tough
enough
with a plan;
impossible
without one.
caught wind of
the planned
announcement,
I immediately told my colleagues
it was shaping up to be
big news. By the time three
Cabinet ministers finished
speaking, I told those colleagues
the news conference was a dud.
Basically, government officials
tossed another coin into
the well, closed its eyes and
wished the country would all go
electric by 2035.
The announcement confused
auto lobbyists and left them with
more questions than answers.
" Where's the plan? " Brian
Kingston, CEO of the Canadian
Vehicle Manufacturers'
Association, which lobbies for
the Detroit Three in Canada,
asked on the July 9 episode of
the Automotive News Canada
Conversations podcast.
David Adams, head of the
Global Automakers of Canada,
which lobbies for overseas automakers,
had similar questions.
" Is this a regulated commitment?
If so, how do we get
there? " he asked in a story in
this issue.
It took a trio of Cabinet ministers
to deliver the news June
29, but none could tell reporters
how much money this plan -
wish, rather - would cost. They
refused to say whether they
would pass legislation outlawing
GUEST COMMENTARY
Black talent is already at work;
let's provide the opportunities
EDITOR'S NOTE: Christopher Nabeta is the national
manager of CPO, fleet and remarketing
at Volvo Car Canada.
GROWING UP, I USED TO ASK MY MOTHER WHY
she would leave at 6 a.m. to go to work when she
didn't start until 9 a.m.
" Whether it is at school or when you
grow up, never give anyone a reason to
question you, " she said. " Work 10 times
harder and always think ahead. If I leave
three hours early and 'Betsy' [her car]
breaks down, I will still make it to work on
time. "
Her words left an indelible impression
as I launched my automotive career.
I started off working as a bilingual cusPUBLISHED
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DAVE VERSICAL, CHIEF OF EDITORIAL OPERATIONS, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS GROUP
Diversity should
be celebrated.
It should not be
uncomfortable.
tomer-relations coordinator, donning a suit
and tie, showing up at 6:30 a.m. every
day. Other than
some of the other
employees fielding
customer calls, no
one above an
entry-level position looked
like me.
One morning, as I
entered the building, I noticed another individual
toiling in the early hours. The following week, I
approached the gentleman and asked why he
came in so early. He replied, " So I do not get stuck
in traffic. You? "
I would meet with him almost every day at 6:30
a.m. He took the time to guide me through my
early career path. He encouraged me to remain
my true self.
" You do not need to be anybody you are not in
order to succeed. You have what it takes, " he said.
Nabeta:
" Let's work
together
to develop
Black talent
and eliminate
barriers. "
SUPPLIED
PHOTO
He would ask about the challenges I faced and
gave advice, even though he could not always
relate. To this day, we still chat before the sun
comes up.
Black talent is out there. However, Black people
and other visible minorities need to be given an
opportunity to succeed.
As a founding member of Accelerate
Auto, a not-for-profit founded to sustainably
increase Black representation in
Canada's automotive industry, I am committed
to working with industry partners
on solutions to overcome the absence of
majority Black-owned dealerships in
Canada or even the lack of Black leaders
at automakers in Canada, and the overall
lack of Black representation in automotive.
One
of our mandates is diligently working
toward addressing the question " How
do we fix this? "
Our organization aims to give equitable
access to opportunities to Black students
and professionals alike. The goal is not to
take jobs away from anyone. It is about creating
equal opportunity and building a sustainable pipeline
of qualified Black talent.
Diversity should be celebrated and should not
be uncomfortable. Inclusion is a choice to step out
of our comfort zone and give people a chance.
Just like our industry supported me, let's work
together to develop Black talent and eliminate barriers.
Let's
work together to ensure our workforce is a
true reflection of the customer base it serves. It is
important for young people to aspire and dream to
one day replace people who look just like them.
- ANC
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2035 ZEV goal needs a plan
DIGITAL AND
MOBILE EDITOR
GREG
LAYSON
the sale of internal-combustion
vehicles.
Transport Minister Omar
Alghabra would say only that, if
required, the federal government
would " pursue additional mandatory
zero-emissions-vehicle
measures to ensure we get to
our 2035 goal. "
He said the government is
looking at expanding rebates,
qualifying the purchase of used
ZEVs for incentives, investing in
charging and more.
Perhaps our federal government
is waiting to see what
happens in the United States,
where fellow liberal Joe Biden is
president and the state of
California - a massive automotive
market that accounts for 11
per cent of new-vehicle sales
nationally - effectively determines
U.S. fuel standards.
In September 2020, Gov.
Gavin Newsom said the
California Air Resources Board
would develop a set of regulations
mandating that all sales of
new light-duty vehicles be ZEVs
by 2035.
Closer to home, Alghabra at
least sounds determined to do
the same.
" We believe that it's doable, "
he said. " It needs determination,
it needs focus, it needs
effort. "
No, Minister Alghabra, it
needs a plan. - ANC

Automotive News Canada - July 2021

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