GlobalAutoIndustry.com’s latest Audio Interview “The Key Factors of Growth of the Canadian EV and Automotive Industry” features Flavio Volpe, president of APMA – The Canadian Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association. He is an internationally recognized champion of Canada’s automotive industry. He leads the APMA – representing OE suppliers to the worldwide automotive industry. Working closely with officials in Ottawa, Washington and Mexico City during the 2017-19 NAFTA renegotiations, he led the effort to secure an unexpected and unprecedented increase in Regional Value Content for Canadian automotive suppliers in the new USMCA.

In the 18-minute Audio Interview, Volpe discusses these questions:

• A Bloomberg report last week stated that Canada is ranked at number two amongst countries’ EV supply chains. What underpins that evaluation?
• Over the last 18 months five OEMs and two major battery companies have invested an unprecedented $16 billion in Canadian production. This reverses a 20-year trend. What happened?
• The Canadian government has set a target of 100% zero emission vehicles sales by 2035. Is that ambitious or impossible?
• APMA is building a concept prototype called Project Arrow. It’s scheduled to be revealed at CES in eight weeks. What is the point of building it? Why is a trade association making a car?

Click here to listen to the audio interview with Flavio Volpe.

About Flavio Volpe

Flavio Volpe is an internationally recognized champion of Canada’s automotive industry. He proudly leads the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) – Canada’s national association representing original equipment suppliers to the worldwide automotive industry Working closely with officials in Ottawa, Washington and Mexico City during the 2017-19 NAFTA renegotiations, he led the effort to secure an unexpected and unprecedented increase in Regional Value Content for Canadian automotive suppliers in the new USMCA.

When the global COVID19 pandemic created a dangerous medical equipment shortage in Canada in early 2020, he launched one of the biggest peace-time mobilizations of the country’s industrial capacity ever. Dubbed a “manufacturing hero” by the Toronto Star for his leadership, this effort resulted in the largest build-orders of ventilators, face shields, surgical masks and gowns in Canada’s history.

A passionate technology leader, his response to the Prime Minister’s call to action for a net-zero emission economy by 2050 was to launch an all-Canadian, zero-emissions, lightweight, concept vehicle to debut in 2022. Described by the Globe and Mail as “an audacious play to build an all-Canadian electric car,” APMA’s Project Arrow was revealed at CES2020 in Las Vegas to international coverage and will serve as a premier showcase of Canada’s automotive technology cluster.

Flavio speaks regularly on behalf of industry interests and is a sought-after voice by leading global publications including The Economist, New York Times, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, CNN, BBC, CNBC, Globe and Mail and Washington Post. He was recognized as a top Industry Leader in the 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 editions of Automotive News Canada’s All-Stars.

Flavio holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Toronto.