Green light for greener cars: Automakers talk sustainability and introduce alternatively fuelled vehicles
Sustainability was the overriding theme of the Third Annual Canadian Automotive Summit. Hosts Michael Vaughan and Jeremy Cato of CTV’s “Car/Business” and The Globe and Mail’s “Globe Auto” verbally sparred with senior executives from most of the major automakers along with other innovators and entrepreneurs in an actual boxing ring at this year’s event, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and The Globe and Mail.
From clean diesel to hybrids to hydrogen fuel cells, the focus this year was on making cars more environmentally efficient. Summit chair Dean Mullett of PwC closed off the evening by stressing that diesel and hybrid engines are merely bridging technologies, and that the auto industry’s ultimate goal is to offer a variety of alternative fuel-powered vehicles that use batteries, hydrogen fuel cells or perhaps even some as-yet-undiscovered technology.
Consumer demand for these vehicles is growing and carmakers know that to remain competitive they need to offer products that consumers are asking for. Watch some video highlights from the event to find out how Canada’s automotive industry is planning for the future.
Sorry, you require Flash player to view these videos.
Please click here to download and install Adobe Flash player
Podcast Part 1 (8:18)
Opening Remarks
Dean Mullett, National Leader, Automotive and Industrial Products, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chrysler
Reid Bigland, President and CEO, Chrysler Canada Inc.
Ralph Gilles, Vice President Jeep/Truck, Advance Interior and Component Design, Chrysler LLC
Mazda
Don Romano, President, Mazda Canada Inc.
Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Product Development and Quality, Mazda North American Operations
Podcast Part 2 (9:18)
Mercedes-Benz
Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO, Mercedes-Benz Canada
Bill Taylor, President and CEO, Mercedes-Benz US International, Inc.
General Motors
Tony Posawatz, Vehicle Line Director, E-Flex Systems and Chevrolet Volt, General Motors
Mitsubishi
David O’Connell, Chief Designer, Mitsubishi Research and Design
Podcast Part 3 (6:09)
Electric Car Panel
Malcolm Bricklin, Founder and CEO, Visionary Vehicles
Dr. Sankar Das Gupta, Chairman and CEO, Electrovaya
Podcast Part 4 (11:35)
Toyota
Stephen Beatty, Managing Director, Toyota Canada Inc.
Bryon Stremler, Manager, Advanced Technology and Powertrain, External Affairs, Toyota Canada Inc.
Subaru
Katsuhiro Yokoyama, President and CEO, Subaru Canada Inc.
Ted Lalka, Vice President, Product Planning, Subaru Canada Inc.
BMW
Lindsay Duffield, President and CEO, BMW Group Canada
Marc Breithecker, Hybrid Engineer, BMW Corp.
Podcast Part 5 (11:07)
Nissan
Ian Forsyth, Director, Corporate and Product Planning, Nissan Canada Inc.
Honda
Jim Miller, Executive Vice President, Honda Canada Inc.
Audi
Diego Ramos, Executive Vice President, Audi Canada
Karsten Ruwoldt, Director, Marketing and Product Management, Audi Canada
Podcast Part 6 (8:11)
Biocar Panel
Peter Johnson, Director, Sustainable Business Solutions, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Dr. Peter Frise, Scientific Director and CEO, AUTO21
Dr. Gord Surgeoner, President, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies
David Miller, Senior Vice President, The Woodbridge Group
Closing Remarks
Dean Mullett, National Leader, Automotive and Industrial Products, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
iTunes