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

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

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

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

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)

Josh Rubin, Toronto Star Mar 17, 2026 With the upcoming CUSMA review, some industry sources say elevated oil prices could give Canada added leverage as a key supplier of crude to the U.S. APMA President Flavio Volpe acknowledged the potential advantage but questioned its impact, noting, “If we’re still talking about this in June and July, a secure source of oil makes for an interesting CUSMA dynamic.” Read here

Lindsay Biscaia, Trading Day | BNN Bloomberg Mar 13, 2026 Reporter cites APMA President Flavio Volpe noting that if Chinese automakers such as BYD build vehicles in Canada, they would need 75% North American content under CUSMA to access the U.S. market, requiring them to develop a regional supplier base. Watch here (@ 11:04)

Greg Layson, Automotive News Canada Mar 12, 2026 Rising tensions in the Middle East are pushing up diesel prices and increasing shipping costs across the auto supply chain. APMA President Flavio Volpe warned the spike quickly eats into thin supplier margins: “And in a business that has a six- or seven-per-cent operating margin, that’s the problem.” Read here (Paywalled)

Freddy Mata, ICI Radio-Canada | CBC News Mar 8, 2026 Women remain underrepresented in Ontario’s auto sector, accounting for about 26.6 per cent of the workforce. APMA Vice President Karen Speers, featured in the report, highlighted the industry’s opportunities for career growth while calling for greater mentorship and visibility to encourage more women to enter the field. Read here

Renée Rodgers, CTV News Mar 6, 2026 APMA President Flavio Volpe reacts to Carney signing a new strategic partnership with Japan to strengthen auto ties. Watch here

David Kennedy, Automotive News Feb 27, 2026 The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling against certain Trump tariffs does not affect Section 232 duties on vehicles and auto parts, which legal experts say are likely to withstand court challenges. APMA President Flavio Volpe said relief for the auto sector is more likely to come through negotiations during the upcoming USMCA review rather than litigation. Read here (Paywalled)

Josh Rubin, Toronto Star Feb 24, 2026 Following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, most Canadian exports that comply with CUSMA will remain tariff-free, providing relief for manufacturers and suppliers. APMA President Flavio Volpe said “The fact they used CUSMA as … a filter for the industrial sector means that a significant number of people in the administration see it as robust for serving American interests.” Read here