7:00 – Registration
8:00 – Quick Takes with Jason Stein
Hear first-hand about manufacturer strategies, market trends, and priorities for 2026. Moderator Jason Stein, journalist and host of SiriusXM’s Cars & Culture, opens CADA Summit with rapid-fire conversations with Canadian OEM leaders. This year, Stein is joined by Steve Flamand, President and CEO, Hyundai Auto Canada; Amy Fleming, President and CEO, Mazda Canada Inc.; Steve Rhind, Managing Director, Nissan Canada Inc.; and Cyril Dimitris, President and CEO, Toyota Canada Inc. Maher Markabi, Vice-President, TD Auto Finance Canada, also offers a lender’s perspective on market trends.
9:00 – Main Session
9:25 – Economic Outlook
Beata Caranci, Chief Economist, TD Bank, presents an economic outlook examining the North American economy, including interest rates, inflation, and consumer spending, and what these trends could mean for automotive retail performance in 2026.
10:00 – Global Market Outlook
Michael Robinet, Vice-President, Forecast Strategy, S&P Global Mobility, brings a global lens to the future of auto manufacturing, supply chains, and electrification. A respected industry strategist, Robinet outlines how shifting global production and mobility trends are influencing Canada’s auto sector. In the same session, Amy Karam, Global Business Strategist and author, discusses how geopolitics, innovation, and trade policy shifts are shaping Canada’s competitiveness and the automotive ecosystem in a rapidly changing world.
11:00 – OEM Fireside Chat
Journalist Jason Stein interviews Duncan Aldred, Senior Vice-President and President, North America, General Motors, who oversees GM’s automotive operations across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with responsibility for sales, marketing, service, and dealer operations. The conversation will explore GM’s North American strategy, leadership priorities, and outlook for the year ahead.
11:45 – 2025 Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) Award Presentations
CADA reveals the 2025 DSI results, recognizing OEMs that achieved the highest dealer satisfaction ratings across Canada.
12:15 – Lunch
1:15 – OEM Fireside Chat
Journalist Jason Stein interviews Adam Chamberlain, Chief Executive Officer, Mercedes-Benz USA, who leads sales, marketing, and dealer network operations across the region. The discussion will explore the company’s strategic direction, outlook, and perspectives on the evolving automotive landscape.
2:00 – Future Trends
Jim Carroll, one of the world’s leading futurists and innovation experts, delivers an energizing look at the forces redefining business and retail, from artificial intelligence and automation to consumer expectations and rapid market transformation.
2:25 – International Association Trends
Tim Reuss, President & CEO, CADA, joins James Voortman, CEO, Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), for a global discussion moderated by Niel Hiscox, Publisher, Canadian Auto Dealer. The panel explores consolidation, investment, and the shared challenges facing dealer networks worldwide.
3:35 – Vehicle Design Trends
Bradley J. Arnold, Head of Hyundai USA Design Studio, shares an inside look at how vehicle design shapes brand identity and customer emotion.
4:20 – CADA Laureate Dealer Panel
Moderated by event emcee Niel Hiscox, this panel features 2025 CADA Laureate Award winners Brent Ravelle (Ravelle Auto Group), Michael Wyant (Wyant Group), and Annie Laliberté (Beauport Hyundai). The discussion highlights their leadership insights and approaches to innovation, culture, and operational excellence.
5:00 – Political Panel
Huw Williams, Public Affairs, CADA, moderates a candid conversation with leading political journalists Althia Raj (CBC), Sean Speer (The Hub), and David Akin (Global News). Together they explore Canada’s political and regulatory climate and the potential impact on the automotive retail sector.
5:50 – Networking Reception