The rise of connected, electric and autonomous vehicles is set to supplant the century-long dominance of the petroleum-powered internal-combustion engine. Combined with the need to integrate sustainability into their operations, navigate supply chain issues and cope with inflation, cost changes and availability of labour, the automotive industry is undergoing a seismic shift—and everyone will be impacted, from OEMs and suppliers to dealerships and gas station chains.
Auto manufacturers have made significant capital commitments to the production of electric vehicles to meet the federal government’s target of shifting to zero-emission light-duty EVs by 2035. But there’s significant work to be done in building out this infrastructure to make EVs on Canadian roads a reality—and ensure Canada has enough clean power to support these vehicles. Sweeping structural change is coming, and new competitors and value chains are emerging.
While the automotive industry was shaped by engineers and mechanics, in the future it will be shaped by computer scientists. Some jobs will be eliminated, but connected, electric and autonomous vehicles will require new skillsets and create new jobs. While there are many challenges on the road ahead, there is also enormous potential in the automotive sector to develop more sustainable, safer modes of transit, as well as new mobility-as-a-service offerings.
