On the eve of the 2025 Canadian International Auto Show, Plugged In podcast host Andrew McCredie sits down with six Canadian automotive executives to get the pulse of the electric vehicle industry in the country today and into the future. All six View from the C-Suite episodes are available now, either by pressing the play button in the imbedded players below or by going to the Plugged In podcast wherever you listen to your podcast.
The six executives are: Audi Canada President and VW Groups President and CEO Vito Paladino, Ford of Canada Model e General Manager Paul Roy, Hyundai Canada Executive Director Steve Flamand, Kia Canada VP & COO Elias El-Achhab, Toyota Canada President and CEO Cyril Dimitris and Volvo Canada CEO Matt Girgis.
No slowing Audi and VW’s push into full electrification
On this episode of our special View from the C-Suite podcast series, Audi Canada President and VW Groups Canada and CEO Vito Paladino joins the podcast to talk about why headwinds will not slow these automaker’s all-electric vehicle plans. He also explains why he welcomes the challenge of Chinese-built EVs, and how he’s not too concerned about the disappearance of government incentives and rebates.
Government incentives integral for EV adoption to ‘bridge the gap,’ says Ford of Canada exec
Ford of Canada sells three all-electric vehicles, the F-150 Lightning pickup truck, the E-Transit cargo van and the Mustang March-e, the latter of which outsold it’s gasoline powered stablemates three-to- one in 2024. That all contributed to a fantastic sales year last year for Ford’s EV segment, posting an amazing 66.1 per cent increase. On this episode of our special View from the C-Suite series, Andrew McCredie talks with Paul Roy, the man who oversees Ford of Canada’s Model e program. Among many talking points, Paul cites the federal and provincial incentives, that have been paused, as integral to maintaining an upward trajectory of EV sales in this country. Without them, he expects sales to dip in the coming year, but has no doubt that electric vehicles will continue to find new buyers across the country.
Hyundai Canada is bullish on the country’s EV future
Hyundai Canada executive director Steve Flamand, sits down with Andrew McCredie to talk about his company’s strong presence in the EV sector in Canada and what the future looks like in that segment. The company is firing on all kilowatts. 2024 was a very strong sales year for Hyundai in Canada. Hyundai sales improved 13.9 per cent over 2023. And on the electrified front — that being a mix of hybrids, plug-hybrids and all- electrics — Hyundai delivered 45,159 vehicles to Canadian customers, representing a whopping 35.1 per cent year-over-year increase. Hear his plans how to keep that strong trend going into 2025 and beyond.
Style and technology is key for Kia’s EV’s
If you haven’t been paying attention, here’s a newsflash: Kia is making some of the most stylish and most technologically advanced all-electric vehicles available in Canada. And the great news is, as you’ll hear from Kia Canada vice-president and COO Elias El-Achhab on this episode of our special View from the C-Suite podcast series, there are two more all-new Kia EVs coming to Canada very soon. He also explains why Kia Canada is investing in public charging, and recount his first-ever experience with electric vehicles way back in the mid-Nineties.
Toyota’s strategy of multiple powertrain platforms is not anti-EV
One couldn’t fault Toyota for feeling a little smug these days, as they are reaping the benefits — or at least not suffering as other automakers — of not pushing all their chips into the all-electric vehicle pot. They certainly took a lot of heat these past few years for not pivoting quicker to build and sell EVs, but now that wait-and-see attitude seems to be paying off. On this episode of our special View from the C-Suite podcast series, Toyota Canada President and CEO Cyril Dimitris explains how the company plans to keep its very strong electrified vehicle sales in 2024 going through 2025 and beyond. One of many success stories is the all-electric Toyota bZ4x, which will soon be available in provinces besides B.C. and Quebec, where it has been on sale for a year.
It’s full-steam ahead for the Volvo’s ambitious all-electric plans
Way back in 2019, Volvo committed to building nothing but ‘electrified’ vehicles by 2022, and hit that mark with a mix of mild-hybrids, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles. The global brand also laid out plans to build nothing but vehicles with a plug by 2023, but last year adjusted that to 90 per cent with the remaining 10 per cent to consist of mild hybrid models. On this episode of our special View from the C-Suite podcast series, Volvo Canada managing director Matt Girgis joins us to talk about the brand’s strong EV sales in 2024 and how they plan to build on that momentum despite EV incentives going away. We also talk about what role governments at all level can play in furthering EV adoption in Canada.
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