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

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

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

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

Marella Fernandez, The Close | BNN Bloomberg Mar 13, 2026 APMA President Flavio Volpe discussed reports that BYD may consider building vehicles in Canada, noting the economic benefits would depend on whether production includes a local supply chain. He also addressed Honda Motor’s large EV-related write-downs, saying several automakers are slowing or recalibrating electric vehicle investments as market demand evolves. Watch 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)

Bill Carroll, The Morning Rush | 580 CFRA Mar 10, 2026 Canada’s tariff-credit system is meant to protect domestic auto production amid U.S. tariffs. APMA President Flavio Volpe said the policy ensures companies that keep building vehicles in Canada receive relief on U.S. imports, calling it a way to keep plants and jobs operating during the trade dispute. “If you invest more in Canada and make more cars next year, we’ll give you more credits,” he said. (Flavio appears @ 42:33

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

Kris Dube, PelhamToday.ca Mar 5, 2026 Speaking in Niagara, APMA President Flavio Volpe expressed cautious optimism about the North American auto sector as rules-of-origin requirements under CUSMA continue to be reviewed. He noted growing U.S. content in Canadian-built vehicles and said tariff exemptions for compliant parts could provide a path forward as Canada, the U.S. and Mexico navigate ongoing trade tensions. Read here

Grace Macaluso, Automotive News Mar 2, 2026 At the Automotive News Canada Congress, industry leaders warned that trade uncertainty and U.S. tariffs are already affecting investment and production in Canada’s auto sector. APMA President Flavio Volpe described the impact of U.S. tariffs on the North American auto sector as “pretty ugly,” despite the temporary relief provided by parts exemptions. Read here (Paywalled)