Experts discuss ways to rev up Canadian auto industry

A panel of McMaster’s leading researchers in automotive technology is to assemble on campus Thursday (Feb. 14) to discuss the future of the industry and how public policies could help Canada develop a bigger share of the global industry.

McMaster University and a team of industrial and academic partners have been awarded a grant by the Automotive Partnership Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to examine the role of public policy in fostering a strong and competitive automotive sector in Canada.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Ford Motor Company and the Canadian Auto Workers Union are partners in the research.

One of the APC’s research priorities is examining the new technologies and production innovations that might be implemented by the automotive industry in the future, and identifying public policies that would help Canada secure a greater share of auto production and design.

The event is hosted by APC principal investigator Charlotte Yates and Industry Liaison and Special Advisor Ken Delaney. Yates is a professor of labour studies and Dean of Social Sciences, while Delaney has served in senior positions with the Steelworkers Union, and acted as a management and public policy consultant.

Guests are to include representatives of government and industry.

The panelists are to include:

– Ali Emadi, director of the McMaster Institute for Automotive Research and Technology (MacAUTO)  and Canada Excellence Research Chair in Hybrid Powertrain

– Saeid Habibi, chair of McMaster’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and NSERC/Ford Canada Industrial Research Chair in Hybrid/Electric Vehicle (HEV) Powertrain Diagnostics

– Joe McDermid, associate chair of mechanical engineering and NSERC/US Steel Canada/Xstrata Zinc Industrial Research Chair in Zinc-Coated Advanced Steels

– Nik Markettos, Assistant Vice-President, Research Partnerships, McMaster University