David Kennedy Toronto Bureau Chief for Automotive News Canada [email protected] (416) 712-1378 Toronto Bureau Chief See All Staff Page Recent Stories Sweden's Northvolt to build $5.1 billion EV battery plant in Canada The Northvolt campus will cover 420 acres and will include a cell production plant and precursor steps such as cathode active material production and battery recycling at adjacent facilities. Unifor sets Oct. 9 deadline for contract talks with General Motors Negotiations between the union and the U.S. automaker resumed after workers at Ford Motor Co. of Canada voted to approve a new contract. GM picked as next bargaining target by Unifor in Canada Unifor picked General Motors Canada as its next bargaining target, a day after union members narrowly ratified a three-year collective agreement with Ford Motor Co. of Canada that set the pattern for this year’s auto talks. Unifor ratifies Ford deal with 54% approval; pact includes wage increase, new pension structure Membership approval of the three-year deal, which was unanimously endorsed by Unifor’s auto bargaining committee, locks in substantial wage gains and pension improvements for workers, and will see Ford invest to expand production at one of its Windsor, Ontario, powertrain plants starting in 2025. Unifor deal with Ford contains up to 22% raise, defined benefits, added engine output Unifor deal with Ford contains up to 22% raise, defined benefits, added engine output Unifor's tentative deal with Ford offers considerable immediate wage increases, pay hikes in both the second and third years of the agreement, a C$10,000 ($7,411 USD) signing bonus and a compression of the previous wage grid. Unifor to hold Ford ratification vote 'before the end of the week' Unifor plans to have members vote on its tentative agreement with Ford Motor Co. of Canada “before the end of the week,” though precise timing for ratification meetings is still being finalized, a union spokesperson told Automotive News Canada Wednesday. Ford reaches tentative labor agreement with Unifor in Canada, avoids second strike Unifor has struck a last-minute tentative agreement with Ford Motor Co. of Canada, averting what would have been the first strike by Canadian auto workers against the automaker in 33 years. Unifor extends strike deadline by 24 hours as Ford talks continue through the night Union says it received 'a substantive offer from the employer minutes before the deadline' Monday. BMO exiting retail auto finance business The Bank of Montreal is exiting the retail auto finance business, as it looks to redeploy resources to areas where its “competitive positioning is strongest.” Ford contract offers rejected by Unifor in Canada Unifor is “meeting resistance” from Ford on several priority issues, Preisdent Lana Payne says, including pension and wage improvements for members. AutoCanada resolves lawsuit against former CEO Patrick Priestner AutoCanada and the company’s founder and former CEO Patrick Priestner have settled a longtime legal battle, with neither party admitting wrongdoing or liability. Canada’s Alpha Auto Group nears $636M deal for U.K.'s Lookers group after vote The all-cash takeover will supersize Toronto-based Alpha Auto, adding 147 U.K. locations to its 15 new-vehicle stores in Canada and the United States. Unifor union picks Ford as Detroit 3 bargaining target in Canada Union President Lana Payne on Tuesday picked Ford as Unifor’s target automaker — three weeks after hinting she was leaning toward focusing on the company that employs about 5,500 union members in Canada to lead off this year’s contract talks. Ford plans $890 million EV battery materials plant in Canada Ford Motor Co., SK On and EcoProBM plan to build an $890 million cathode manufacturing plant in Quebec that will provide materials that ultimately supply batteries for Ford’s future EVs. AutoCanada Q2 net income rises 16% to $45 million AutoCanada Executive Chairman Paul Antony credited improving new-car inventories, greater internal efficiency readying used vehicles for resale and the “robust performance” of dealership service departments for the strong results. Load More
David Kennedy Toronto Bureau Chief for Automotive News Canada [email protected] (416) 712-1378 Toronto Bureau Chief See All Staff Page