Your Monthly Minute
February 2018
Call for Young Leader of the Year Award nominations
Know someone who excels in leadership, is involved with AIA Canada, shows commitment to their community through volunteering and achieves accomplishments both in and out of the automotive aftermarket industry? Nominate them as the next Young Leader of the Year!

Click here for the nomination form.


AIA Canada's market research continues to make a difference to the aftermarket industry in 2018
Innovation, emerging technologies, disruptors, new mobility - call it what you will, the fact is, the automotive industry is changing at a rapid pace that will invariably influence the aftermarket sector. AIA Canada is committed to demystifying these new technologies and their possible impact on the aftermarket sector.

In 2017, we demonstrated our commitment through our cutting-edge market research and policy reports. The much sought-after, 'Disruptors in the Automotive Aftermarket,' made the case for how technological change will impact different segments of the industry, while also providing a clear road map to navigate those changes. Our Consumer Behaviour Series continued to shed light on car owners' perspectives on repair and maintenance, telematics, and more.

For 2018...
we will continue to support the industry and our members through insightful research into topics that directly impact their businesses. Our big-ticket piece is the 2018 Outlook Study - a staple strategic planning tool that our members have come to expect from us. We are also launching AutoConnect - a one of a kind website that will help fulfill the aftermarket's labour needs. 

AIA Canada will also put a dollar value on the impact industry disruptors will have on aftermarket businesses. In all, we have an exciting line-up of research reports for 2018! 


Join our mailing list to stay in the know.
The voice of the aftermarket has been heard
Both the Senate and House of Commons have committees that study issues that will impact Canadian society. The findings from these studies inform government - influencing policy, programs and legislation. In May 2017, AIA testified before a Senate committee, studying the technical and regulatory issues related to the deployment of autonomous and connected vehicles.
 

This is evident in the just released committee report by t he Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications 

Recognizing the enticing power of the increasing amount of data that is collected and sent from vehicles, the committee has recommended that government monitors activity on the vehicle data front to ensure that the aftermarket has access to the data it needs to provide its services (see page 59 - 60 of the report).
 
This is a very strong win for the aftermarket!
 
What else did the study say about how government should regulate autonomous and connected vehicles? Check out the report here.
Asbestos update
The Government of Canada announced in 2016 that they would prohibit the manufacture, use, import and export of asbestos and products containing asbestos by 2018.

On January 6, 2018, after a year of consulting with the public and industry, the government published the final draft of proposed regulations. The public now has until March 22, 2018 to submit their comments on the proposed regulations before they are finalized.

The battle for access to vehicle data collected via autonomous and connected vehicle technology is a heated topic in the United States. Associations representing vehicle manufacturers are throwing their support behind some pieces of legislation related to vehicle data while throwing grenades at other pieces.
 
So what can we expect to hear from vehicle manufacturers, the current landlords of this data, about how data should be managed in the future?
 
Take the Global Automakers opposition to a bill in Rhode Island (2016) for example. The bill would require car companies to provide car owners with the ability to control where information transmitted by vehicle telematics systems is sent.  
 
Global Automakers argues that there is no need for such open data lines since consumers choice in where they have their vehicles serviced is alive and well since Right to Repair ensures that shops have access to vehicle data through on board diagnostics (OBD).
 
The problem with this argument - many predict that it is the beginning of the end for the OBD - and the beginning of the beginning for data being accessed via OEM servers.
Is it the beginning of the end for the OBD?
 
Read on here.
Interested in learning more about government relations at AIA? Are there issues happening in your region that impact the aftermarket that we should know about? 

Reach out to Erin Chreptyk at erin.chreptyk@aiacanada.com  or follow GR at AIA on Twitter at  @AIAOFCANADAGR
Our High Fives for Kids Foundation is supporting our members in making a difference in the lives of the Canadian children across the country. Special shout out to Gaetan Dussault, from AIA's Quebec Division for championing ESPACE Quebecs' great cause.
L to R: Audrey Demers, Andréanne Tardif, Karine Savoie, Ga ëtan Dussault, Carol-Anne Tremblay

Ontario Division's generous donation to H5s4Ks
We are very pleased to announce the Ontario Division's $15,000 donation to the AIA High Fives for Kids Foundation!
L to R: Andy Murphy, Ken Coulter, Joe Mercanti
We're going digital!
This year, our events will use the AIA Canada app so you can have a memorable experience at our events. Here's what to expect when you download the app:
  • Build your own schedules based on interest of specific activities during each event
  • Partake in conversations through live polling, Q&A, and have an equal voice
  • View agenda, speaker bios, and other relevant information pertaining to the event




Who's stealing your repair shop business?
With the rise of electric cars, automotive service providers (ASPs) may experience significant reductions in vehicle service and maintenance volume. Cars are being equipped with telematic systems that give OEMs the ability to connect wirelessly to vehicles in order to send and receive information.

Car owners could have fewer options of where they take their car to be serviced and a free and competitive auto care marketplace could be threatened.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND OBTAIN THE INSIGHT AT THE ONTARIO KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE SERIES!

Where insight, connections and innovative trends and initiatives go  hand-in-hand
Registration is now open for the  The Young Executive Society (YES) Conference. Each year, the YES Conference aims to provide powerful insight and connections to put young executives at the forefront of trends and new initiatives.

Does the automotive aftermarket and where the industry is heading excite you?

And the winners are...
Between October 15, 2017 and December 14, 2017, I-CAR® Canada held a draw for two Apple iPads for technicians who purchased and successfully completed any I-CAR® Canada Independent Learning (IL) course.

And the winners are...

Dan Bourgouin - Collision Repair Technician
Capital Ford Lincoln located in Winnipeg Manitoba
 
Jason Zuck - Estimator
Boyd Autobody & Glass - Langley located in Langley British Columbia
 
Congratulations!
In This Issue
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Your Industry Knowledge Centre
Access the latest in market research and industry data. 

Latest Research 

Consumer Series: E-tailing: Online Shopping Habits of Canadian Car Owners


Coming soon

Labour Market Watch: Status of the Aftermarket Industry

Outlook Study 2018

Economic Impact Analysis of Industry Disruptors

Education Sector Survey

Compensation Study 2018

Labour Market Intelligence: Final Report


N.B. Member login required to download free reports. Non-members can purchase reports online.

Industry Job Board







N.B. Free member benefit.

Membership
Welcome to the following new members:

Distribution BSL Inc.

Equipements ESF inc.

Gallant's Parts & Tools Inc. (Dieppe)

Mighty Group Ltd. (MGL Auto Parts)

Pièces et équipements d'autos Suprême Lachute inc.

Performance Edge Racing Parts & Accessories

Pièces d'auto du Suroît inc.

Pièces d'auto Dupont

Simplicity Car Care

United Sales Associates
Upcoming Events
March 2018

27 - YES Conference

28 - Ontario Knowledge Exchange Series

April 2018

25 - ACE Conference

See more...
Industry Events
March 2018

22 - Bestbuy AGM

June 2018

14 - Annual Shad's R&R
Golf Tournaments
May 2018

31 - Quebec Division Golf Tournament
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