Janyce McGregor, CBC News Apr 8, 2026 Allegations of forced labour in Chinese EV supply chains are raising new concerns as Canada moves to allow more imports, with scrutiny focused on BYD’s overseas operations. "Nobody asks themselves why the cars were so cheap: it's because when you decide to choose affordability to serve your finite resources at the expense of society's values of fairness, somebody else pays the bill," said APMA president Flavio Volpe Read here

Neil Moss, et al., The Hill Times Apr 8, 2026 APMA president Flavio Volpe is named to the Top 50 list for the 6th year in a row as a key voice shaping Canada’s foreign policy on trade. He's identified as a “trusted adviser” to the federal government and an advocate for the auto sector amid ongoing tensions with the U.S. Read here

Brad Anderson, CarScoops.com Apr 7, 2026 Canadian industry leaders and policymakers are strongly opposing plans to revive the Brampton plant as a knock-down kit assembly operation. As he criticized the plan as similar to IKEA’s business model, APMA president Flavio Volpe said, “I think the federal government needs to be clear that knock-down kits and sales from knock-down operations are imports.” Read here

Karina Roman, Power & Politics | CBC News Apr 2, 2026 APMA President Flavio Volpe argues making Chinese EVs at Stellantis's Brampton, Ont., assembly would be like building 'Ikea furniture kits,' and suggests it's 'an import quota cheat' after Canada agreed to allow 49,000 EVs from China at lower tariff rates. Volpe says it's 'not an option — don't even try it.' Watch here

Kamil Karamali, CTV National News Apr 4, 2026 Some see Chinese EV entry as a path to new manufacturing jobs, but APMA President Flavio Volpe cautioned against assembly-only models, comparing them to “buying Ikea furniture… that doesn’t make you a manufacturer.” He pointed instead to full-scale production in Canada, saying a localized approach could “put 12,000 people back to work.” Watch here

Bienvenu Senga, ICI Radio-Canada | CBC News Apr 3, 2026 One year after U.S. tariffs hit Canada’s auto sector, industry leaders warn the damage remains severe, with billions in added costs and ongoing job losses across assembly and parts. APMA President Flavio Volpe said the situation must be resolved quickly, calling for a renewed trade deal and the removal of tariffs. Read here

The Canadian Press Apr 2, 2026 Unifor is raising concerns over Stellantis potentially assembling Chinese EVs at its Brampton plant using knock-down kits, warning the model would deliver minimal jobs and bypass Canada’s supply chain. APMA President Flavio Volpe said similar approaches are “not manufacturing” and risk excluding Canadian parts suppliers from the value chain. Read here

Mike Le Couteur, Power Play | CTV News Apr 2, 2026 Stellantis is in early talks to build Chinese EVs at its idled Brampton plant, with Ottawa signalling it will reject any “knock-down kit” assembly model in favour of full production. APMA President Flavio Volpe welcomed the stance but cautioned it must be applied consistently, noting the government “needs to be able to say that every time” new proposals are brought forward. Watch here

Andrew Bell, The Close | BNN Bloomberg Apr 2, 2026 Stellantis’ potential partnership with China’s Leapmotor to build EVs in Brampton is drawing concern over a shift to low-value “knock-down kit” assembly that could displace significant Canadian economic activity. Flavio Volpe, President of the APMA, warned such a move would mean “saying bye-bye to billions of dollars of activity and tens of thousands of jobs.” [Flavio appears @ 18:36] Watch here

Eric Atkins, The Globe and Mail Apr 1, 2026 Stellantis is considering assembling Chinese EVs at its idled Brampton plant using imported “knock-down kits,” raising concerns about limited domestic production and supply chain benefits. APMA President Flavio Volpe warned “Allowing Chinese knockdown kits there would freeze out hundreds of Canadian auto parts suppliers who are waiting for that plant to resume production.” Read here (Paywalled)

Josh Rubin and Robert Benzie, Toronto Star Apr 1, 2026 A proposed Stellantis deal to assemble Chinese EVs in Brampton using knock-down kits is drawing strong opposition over risks to jobs and the domestic supply chain. “Chinese knock-downs might be a great idea in Brazil or Mexico, but we don’t need them here,” said APMA President Flavio Volpe. Read here (Paywalled)

Brian Platt and Gabrielle Coppola, Bloomberg News Apr 1, 2026 Another report highlights Stellantis’ early-stage talks with a Chinese partner on a potential joint venture in Canada. APMA President Flavio Volpe said any deal “must be full vehicle assembly with local suppliers” and warned, “we don’t need a bad deal, and we shouldn’t settle for one.” Read here

Grace Macaluso, Automotive News Apr 1, 2026 Canada’s auto industry is urging Ottawa to quickly repeal the EV mandate, warning delays are creating compliance risks and planning uncertainty as companies prepare for the 2027 model year. APMA President Flavio Volpe said the mandate “would have penalized producers for not meeting electrification targets that were not achievable.” Read here (Paywalled)

Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star Mar 30, 2026 Canada and the U.S. have resumed trade discussions ahead of the July 1 CUSMA deadline, but progress remains unclear as negotiations appear less advanced than.-Mexico talks. APMA President Flavio Volpe noted Canada is “lagging” and not receiving the same level of engagement from U.S. negotiators. Read here

Abas Rana, et al., The Hill Times Mar 30, 2026 APMA President Flavio Volpe was again named to The Hill Times Top 100 Most Influential People in Government and Politics for 2026, recognized for his role shaping trade and industrial policy and advocating for Canada’s auto sector amid rising tariffs and global competition Read here

Janyce McGregor, CBC News Mar 27, 2026 Canada could face new tariffs ahead of the USMCA review as the U.S. launches a forced-labour probe that may target supply chains tied to Chinese EV imports, raising risks for the auto sector. "It's recklessly naive to assume that Western standards in labour rights and materials sourcing are being upheld in China's auto sector," said Flavio Volpe, president of the APMA. Read here

Gregory Wilson, ICI-Radio Canada | CBC News Mar 25, 2026 [Translated from French] Ontario businesses remain cautious amid ongoing tariff pressures, with calls for measures to boost competitiveness and resilience. While some advocate tax reform, APMA President Flavio Volpe argues for targeted, temporary supports such as tax deferrals and liquidity aid to help companies navigate near-term trade disruptions. Read here

Alain McKenna, La Presse Mar 23, 2026 [Original in French] Canada is looking to revive its auto sector by attracting foreign automakers or building a domestic brand, with the APMA also advancing its own Canadian vehicle concept. However, experts say both paths remain challenging despite available capacity and trade advantages. Read here (Paywalled)

The Canadian Press Mar 19, 2026 Govenor General Mary Simon inducted more than 30 individuals into the Order of Canada, including auto industry advocate Flavio Volpe who is the president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association. The ceremony also honoured figures from law, media and the arts, recognizing contributions across Canadian public life. Watch here

Joe Volpe, Corriere Canadese Mar 20, 2026 Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, was among this year’s Order of Canada honourees, recognized for his leadership in advancing Canada’s automotive sector and mobilizing industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony, held at Rideau Hall, celebrated contributions across public life, with a photo gallery capturing the event and recipients. Read here