OEM leaders to share insights at CADA Summit
October 16, 2023
At last year’s CADA Summit, the OEM Quick Takes session was intended to be an informal session as attendees were arriving and having breakfast, where they would listen in to a conversation between Canadian OEM leaders and moderator Jason Stein, respected automotive journalist and host of the Cars and Culture radio program on SiriusXM. But the chats were so popular, the room outside the event was jam-packed with dealer attendees listening in rapt attention. This year, the Quick Takes sessions are built into the main stage agenda to kick off the day.
“I think one of the things that we want to hear in the Quick Takes segment is where do automakers think the year is going? Where is 2024 going to land? We will talk a little bit about where 2023 ended up and as well,” said Stein in an interview about the event. “There is no shortage of discussion points and this industry continues to change on a regular basis and just keeps fulfilling that promise.”
With each OEM interview segment only being a few minutes, it gives the audience a chance to hear from several leaders about their take on the industry. “It is definitely an industry that is full of personalities. What I like about the Quick Takes segment is that you really get a chance to see the personalities of the automaker executives come out,” said Stein. “It's fun because so much of their worlds are truly scripted…I think what the crowd really appreciates is the candor and the humility, and the honesty about where some of these hot issues will land.”
This year’s OEM leaders expected to participate in the Quick Takes include: David Klan, President and CEO of Mazda Canada, Steve Milette, President, Nissan Canada, John Cappella, President and CEO Porsche Cars Canada, and Jason Stoicevich, Chairman President and CEO, Stellantis Canada.
For the panel discussion in the afternoon, the OEM leaders expected to participate include: Beverly Goodman, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Marissa West, President and Managing Director, General Motors of Canada, and Pierre Boutin, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group Canada.
While Stein said the topics they will discuss could change closer to the event, it’s a pretty safe bet they will tackle topics such as their electric vehicle strategy, logistics and inventory.
“I think we're going to get a chance to really hear from executives on how they feel that the electrification push is rolling out. As product plans come to fruition, and as dozens and dozens of pure EVs hit the road, how do these OEM leaders feel about that transition? Is it one foot in the internal combustion world and one foot in the EV world? And how do you maintain that?” he said.
Stein said he feels the industry is now at its most pivotal time in the 25 years he’s been covering it. “How do you keep momentum on one side of a new burgeoning business while also keeping the bread and butter side of your business rolling?”
In terms of logistics and inventory, he said one of the issues that persists is tackling the practical side of getting vehicles to the right places.
Another key topic will be about the labour force. “How do you get the right people in the right places in order to make your businesses run most effectively? And that's just not obviously at the dealership level or even the supplier level, but really at the OEM level as well and making sure that the workforce is engaged and focused.”
CADA Summit is being held February 14, 2024 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Registration for dealers opens this month.
TD Auto Finance is the event’s exclusive sponsor and has been since the event’s inception more than a decade ago.