TJAA Professional:Canada’s Automotive Business

Home | Past TJAA Issues | Terms of Use | MERCURY login | Contact

WEEKLY VIDEO: Bumpers - SUV versus cars

Breaking Inertia - Automechanika Canada

By Michael Pistol

A few weeks ago, I attended the second Automechanika Canada Show and in some respects, I was surprised. I noted that the audience numbers were a bit on the ‘lighter' side, which considering where we're going - economically speaking - it comes as a surprise.
Granted, so many in our industry are currently overwhelmed by the sudden change in the automotive business outlook - a business that was, for too long, tailored to please a consumer accustomed to cheap energy and an abundance of inexpensive fuel. As the current energy/fuel prices keeps skyrocketing on an almost weekly basis, these consumers' lifestyles are, by default, changing too.
So, once again, it comes as a surprise to see that one of the pillars of the automotive sector - the aftermarket, shows just a passing interest in a trade show of such international reputation as Automechanika.

The $16.1billion Canadian aftermarket sector is the backbone of an entire array of small automotive businesses, from jobbers to auto body shops and from warehouse distributors to your local auto repair shop. The entire sector employs about 222,000 people, a sizable workforce, well embedded in the local communities across the country.
Arguably, this symbiosis with the community is the basis for the strength of this sector. Arguably too, it could very well be its weakness...

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Ipso Facto - Fundamentals

ENERGY: Oil Nears US$146 Mark. $150 expected soon

Oil prices hit a new record over US$145/barrel this week, a move linked to a drop in U.S. crude inventories. According to the trade data, the new record - US$145.85/barrel...
Read More

COMMENTARY: Canadian Automotive Employment - First quarter

The first quarter employment numbers for the Canadian vehicle and parts manufacturing sector are ugly. However, according to data going back to 1991, the longer-term trend for Canada is still up over this time frame...
Read More

ECONOMY: Gross domestic product (GDP) rebounds in April - Statscan

Real gross domestic product (GDP) rebounded in April, increasing by 0.4% after declines in February and March. There were increases in manufacturing...
Read More

REPORT: Canadian Consumers to Gear Down Their Spending – TD Bank

Canadian households have been spending almost like drunken sailors over the past couple of years, which provided critical support to the economy when...
Read More

FORECAST: Canada could go into a recession, Ontario is already there, but Québec should be able to avoid slipping into one - Desjardins Group

The struggle with the financial crisis and recession is not even over, and a new enemy is materializing: inflation! After four straight months of pullbacks, the Canadian economy...
Read More

RESOURCES 2009

CANADIAN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY RESOURCES

Need results? Meet our industry's key players.
Essential data, contacts, website.

Read More

_advertisement

Seven Days

TAXES: B.C.’s carbon tax in effect

On July 01, British Colombia's government activated its new carbon...
Read More

APPOINTMENT: Wakefield Canada appoints Kevin Tomalin as Brand Manager, Automotive

Wakefield Canada Inc. has announced that Kevin Tomalin...
Read More

PRODUCT PRICING I: Infiniti, Nissan Canada Inc. asserts pricing ‘leadership’

NCI has announced reduced pricing on the 2009 Nissan Armada...
Read More

PRODUCT PRICING II: Toyota Canada reduces MSRP on 11 models

Toyota Canada has announced that it's lowering the MSRP...
Read More

BANKRUPTCY: Progressive Molded Products Inc. trouble spills over

Two weeks after Ontario, Vaughan-based Progressive...
Read More

_advertisement

STRATEGIC/MACRO DAILY INFORMATION for Canadian automotive business

TJAAautoinfo FASTWEBLINK

Thursday - Sept. 09, 2010

FOCUS: BMW August unit sales up 12.5% - MarketWatch

FOCUS II: Honda Aims to Boost Odyssey Appeal by Ditching ‘Boxy' Van Look - Bloomberg

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: European Crisis Flares Up in Ireland - WSJ

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: OECD Says Economy Slowdown ‘More Pronounced' Than Anticipated - BusinessWeek

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS III: Morgan Stanley: Europe's Sovereign Debt Crisis Could Next Hit France And Germany - BusinessInsider

CANADA

BMW, Mercedes battle for top spot in luxury autos - Reportonbusiness

Canada's AAA Credit Ratings, Stable Outlook Affirmed by Fitch - Bloomberg

‘Unusual uncertainty:' Where does the economy go from here? - TheStar

Canada's banks raise prime rate to 3% - FinancialPost

‘Canada won't be immune': Nouriel Roubini: U.S. still faces double-dip threat - Reportonbusiness

INTERNATIONAL

Japan to turn down 52,000 car subsidy requests - Reuters

Officially, Official: Chevrolet to unveil 2012 Aveo at Paris Motor Show - Autobloggreen

Car companies race to innovate - DetroitNews

China's August Passenger-Car Sales Growth Accelerates - Bloomberg

Opel to Bring Astra GTC Concept to Paris - WardsAuto

Kia denies report of new China plant - Reuters

Wednesday - Sept. 08, 2010

FOCUS: GM's OnStar Said to Consider Free Services, Targeting Ford - Bloomberg

FOCUS II: Why carmakers aren't coming back anytime soon - Fortune

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Japan officials voice concern over economy as yen rallies - MarketWatch

CANADA

At the end of '09, total household liabilities in Canada stood at a historic high of 146.2% of disposable income: Rising debts cancel low-rate savings - FinancialPost

Carney May Raise Canada Rate Before Pausing to Gauge Recovery - Bloomberg

Manpower Inc: Fewer Canadian firms hiring in Q4 - CBC

Stocks: Canada snaps eight-session advance on Europe woes - MarketWatch

David Suzuki: Why even electric vehicles won't save us - Autobloggreen

INTERNATIONAL

Bentley unveils newest version of Continental - DetroitNews

Dongfeng Nissan unveils new China brand Venucia - Reuters

What peak oil? Why an oil glut is ahead - Fortune

VW to Extend Winterkorn's Contract, Board Member Says - Bloomberg

Navistar swings to profit, cuts revenue guidance - MarketWatch

Tuesday - Sept. 07, 2010

FOCUS: The rise and fall in China's auto production and sales growth since 2006: Shifting Gears - Caixin