AIAMC's Open House couldn't have come at a better time. Held on Tuesday, December 4th, the reception "to celebrate the holiday season and the opening of our new office" was in many respects highly symbolic: The move from the corner of University Avenue and Dundas to the heart of Toronto's business district - Yonge and Bloor - represents the coming of age for an association that started out in 1979 as a sub-committee within the what was then known as the Canadian Importers Association.
Under its current president, Mr. David C. Adams, elected in April 2005, the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada (AIAMC) has evolved into one of the most influential automotive associations in this country - not too hard to miss when considering the participants to this event.
Naturally, top representatives of the 18 importing manufacturers that the association represents, such as Marcus Breitschwerdt, Mercedes-Benz 
Canada's president, Jim Miller, - Executive V.P. Honda Canada, Lindsay Duffield, BMW Canada's president and Diego Ramos - Executive VP, Audi Canada -were just a few of the executives that were present at AIAMC's open house.
Some of the best-known names of the automotive who's who were also on the guest lists: industry analysts Dennis DesRosiers and Scotiabank's Carlos Gomes, J.D.Power's executive director - Richard Cooper, David Worts - JAMA's executive director, as well as Pollution Probe's top brass - Ken Ogilive and Bob Oliver, and many, many others.
Yet, the guest of honor was, without doubt, Ms. Sandra Pupatello, Ontario's Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Ms. Pupatello's short, but poignant speech, was centered on the recognition that today the Canadian automotive sector is, by all means and considerations, an amalgam of international players - from manufacturers to distributors and importers.
Just a few days earlier, the November vehicle sales results were announced, and indeed AIAMC had something else to celebrate - a relatively strong performance of its members in a tough market that was down 5%.
It will be interesting to watch AIAMC growth in the next several years. The shifting concept of ‘domestic' versus ‘import' is becoming even more complex as the trade and manufacturing realities are seriously hitting home. In this context, one can see AIAMC's profile and influence increasing directly in proportion with its rising power - both in increased Canadian vehicle market share as well as a substantial increase in revenues.
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Friday - Jan. 27, 2012
FOCUS: Ford Motor Co. earns $20.2 billion in 2011 - Det.News
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Investors fear mounting losses in Portugal as second rescue looms - Telegraph
CANADA
Does Harper really need to raise the retirement age? - ReportonBusiness
Borrowing Boomers pile on more debt - MoneyVille
INTERNATIONAL
Ford net jumps; operating profit lags estimate - MarketWatch
Jobs, Jobs and Cars - NYTimes
GM: Bad publicity hurt Volt - Det.News
New Chevy Window Sticker Details Cradle-to-Grave Environmental Impact - Wards
Kia targets 2012 sales growth to slow to 9.5% - MarketWatch
Thursday - Jan. 26, 2012
FOCUS: Hyundai Motor posts 38% rise in Q4 net profit - MarketWatch
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: THE SEEDS OF DYSTOPIA: Roubini & Co. Scare The Crap Out Of Davos - BusinessInsider
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: Bernanke has "finger on trigger" for new bond buys - Reuters
CANADA
Canadian jobs quality worsened in 2011: CIBC report - TheStar
Canada imports oil while battling over pipeline exports - CBC
INTERNATIONAL
Ford: Fusion isn't chasing Camry - Det.News
Nissan, Partners Explore Afterlife of EV Batteries - Wards
MG makes a return to racing - Telegraph
Crude oil edges above $100 a barrel - MarketWatch
Fiat-Chrysler in talks to produce Jeeps in China - Det.News
Wednesday - Jan. 25, 2012
FOCUS: Car makers work to sort out mess in Europe - Det.News
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Forget Greece; it's Portugal that'll destroy euro - MarketWatch
CANADA
Two major Canadian unions, CAW and CEP, exploring merger by mid-2013 - TheStar
More Canadians in low-paying jobs - ReportonBusiness
INTERNATIONAL
Audit rips exec pay in bailouts - Det.News
GM International Chief Sees Remedy for European Ops as Sales Soar Elsewhere - Wards
Opel Talking with SAIC Regarding China Sales Expansion - ChinaCarTimes
GM CEO to Congress: Volt is safe - Det.News
Tuesday - Jan. 24, 2012
FOCUS: European Debt Won't ‘Put Brakes on the World,' Ford Executive Says - Wards
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Worries Portugal may need second bailout: WSJ - MarketWatch
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: Euro zone may skirt recession as PMIs surprise - Reuters
CANADA
Signs augur well for Canadian entry in TPP: Trade Minister - ReportonBusiness
Carney warns U.S. may never fully recover - CBC
INTERNATIONAL
Auto bankruptcies weighed early - Det.News
The art of the supercar - Telegraph
Volkswagen Aims to Combine With Porsche as Soon as Economically ‘Sensible' - Bloomberg
Congress yet to OK electric auto agenda - Det.News
Monday - Jan. 23, 2012
FOCUS: OPEC: $100 oil acceptable to producers, consumers - MarketWatch
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Davos guide: what you need to know about the World Economic Forum - Guardian
CANADA
Stalled on the road to economic recovery - ReportonBusiness
INTERNATIONAL
Hyundai rattles Volkswagen in Europe after winning in U.S. - Det.News
Momentum Builds for Chrysler Design Team - Wards
Toyota to cut 350 jobs at Australian plant - MarketWatch
GM Faces Task of Rebuilding Volt Image After NHTSA Ends Its Investigation - Bloomberg
Friday - Jan. 20, 2012
FOCUS: GM again world's largest on strong Chevy sales - Det.News
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Shilling says new global recession is here - MarketWatch
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: Factbox: What happens if Greece defaults? - Reuters
CANADA
Annual inflation falls sharply to 2.3% - ReportonBusiness
Who knew? Toronto's economy is on fire - FinancialPost
INTERNATIONAL
GM picks N.Y. man's ad to air during Super Bowl - Det.News
Mazda3 Hints at Things to Come - Wards
UK: Ten most expensive cars to insure - Telegraph
Chrysler, GM wait on raises, bonuses - Det.News
Thursday - Jan. 19, 2012
FOCUS: Science panel backs closing of Toyota acceleration probe - DetroitNews
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: IMF sees euro zone GDP down 0.5 percent in 2012: ANSA - Reuters
CANADA
Don't settle for new 'natural' jobless rate of 7 per cent - ReportonBusiness
BOC's Mark Carney puts a price tag on global turmoil - TheStar
Living the American dream -- in Canada - MarketWatch
INTERNATIONAL
Akerson to testify in Volt probe - DetroitNews
Saab: a celebration - Telegraph
Honda's Plan To Manufacture Supercars In America Is A Gamechanger - BusinessInsider
Renault has no plans to sell Volvo stake: report - MarketWatch
Kia Stop/Start Stalls - Wards
Wednesday - Jan. 18, 2012
FOCUS: Average age of cars, trucks hits 10.8 years, sets record - DetroitNews
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: IMF explores $1 trillion lending boost - MarketWatch
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: Hungary faces ruin as EU loses patience - Telegraph
CANADA
Federal budget may be delayed by European woes - CBC
Flaherty watching risky debt as Carney leaves BOC interest rate at 1 per cent - TheStar
INTERNATIONAL
Toyota sets high Korean target for Camry sales - MarketWatch
Lotus's Incoming Malaysian Owner Says It's Open to Selling Sports Carmaker - Bloomberg
Mercedes to Ponder Engine Exports From U.S. - Wards
Toyota to build 30,000 hybrid subcompacts in Feb - MarketWatch
Tuesday - Jan. 17, 2012
FOCUS: Saudis target 'triple-digit' oil price for the first time - ReportonBusiness
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Eurozone's 'big bazooka' bail-out fund is left in tatters by S&P downgrade - Telegraph
CANADA
Canada: A global energy superpower - FinancialPost
Euro woes temper growth: Mark Carney - ReportonBusiness
INTERNATIONAL
Fiat, Peugeot Lead European Car-Sales Drop as Economy Slows - Bloomberg
Public hearing in Detroit to address fuel economy standards - DetroitNews
Mini and Chrysler Recall Vehicles for Electronic Flaws - WSJ
Denso Growth Heats Up - Wards
Monday - Jan. 16, 2012
FOCUS: Today's youth a tough sell for automakers - DetroitNews
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: IMF: European outlook grim; high global risks - MarketWatch
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: UK back in recession and no interest rates rise 'until 2016' - Telegraph
CANADA
Carney set to keep powder dry, stand pat on rates - ReportonBusiness
INTERNATIONAL
Saab Owners Still Rallying To Support Brand - WSJ
Billionaire Syed Mokhtar's DRB-Hicom to Buy Control of Lotus-Owner Proton - Bloomberg
Opel to Unveil New Mokka Small CUV in Geneva - Wards
GM Vice Chair Stephens to retire on April 1 - DetroitNews
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