Michelle Sund

Another great piece by David Kennedy Automotive News Canada highlighting the house of cards that is the B.C. ZEV Mandate with both the most stringent ZEV targets in North America, combined with reduced EV rebate eligibility, negatively impacting one brand which forms almost 50% of the ZEV rebates. The auto industry is NOT anti-EV, it is pro-reality. This transition will be led by consumers NOT prescribed by government.

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Big Automotive News. I am curious if/how this might affect the potential return of the Nissan NV200 or another small economical cargo van. Will Nissans openness to fleet influence Honda's fleet strategy. https://lnkd.in/e8zfCBW2

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Thanks to CRM for allowing me to contribute.

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It hit me recently—I’ve had the incredible privilege of interviewing over 1,000 Automotive professionals across Canada and the US. One thousand conversations, each about an hour long, with people I’d often just met for the first time. These interviews have been more than a professional journey—they’ve been a window into the resilience, ambition, and heart of our industry. Listening to each person’s story—their challenges, victories, and dreams—has taught me so much, not just about the Automotive world but about people. What amazes me the most is the trust. Many have opened up about things they don’t share with others—uncertainties about career moves, personal challenges, or moments of doubt. Together, we’ve navigated the uncharted waters of COVID, celebrated successes, and reflected on what truly matters. I’ve cheered quietly from the sidelines, honoured to be part of those behind-the-scenes moments that often define someone’s path. If you and I have ever spoken at length, please know that your unique story has inspired and reminded me of the power of human connection. I’m so grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me. This milestone isn’t about numbers—it’s about the people. And the people in this industry are what make it truly extraordinary. Here's to the journeys we’ve shared and those still to come. #Gratitude #Leadership #AutomotiveIndustry #Connection #Inspiration

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I am using Formula 1 (shocker) as an example, but Jeremy Korzeniewski's article highlights several gaps at the Canadian Grand Prix. These need to be resolved to maintain a certain level of quality and enable increased attendance (revenue) next year. The series "Drive to Survive" has helped jumpstart F1 into markets and demographics where it previously struggled to gain hold. However, to maximize (and maintain) this level of success, F1 must address and resolve ongoing issues brought up in the article. Failing to do so will cost them in the long run. This example is universally applicable though. Automotive suppliers are needing to reduce cost. Some of these cost-cutting measure might improve their bottom line with short-term solutions, but they could be sacrificing long-term profitability through quality, increasing lead times, or forgoing capital investments. What strategies do you think businesses should be deploying to balance immediate gain with long-term sustainability and growth? If you're an F1 fan looking to attend the Canadian GP next year, I recommend giving the article a read. #formula1 #automotiveindustry #drivetosurvive https://lnkd.in/giKd3v-6

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This is a good example of how the total cost of ownership offsets the higher up-front price for some EVs. By all accounts, that premium price will soon be gone and EVs will be less expensive to purchase as well as cheaper to own.

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Canada is strongly positioned to play a leading role in the electrification transition.

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How will tariffs, including those in Canada, affect the auto industry going forward? Insights from my colleague Mark Wakefield are included in this Automotive News piece: https://lnkd.in/gg4Zbs54 If you're concerned about how your company might be affected by tariffs, give us a call; we have solutions. #tariffs #BYD #automotive

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Happy to share our latest article in Canadian Auto Dealer. Applying Lean Manufacturing principles in your After-sales department could help you find an extra tech that you already have! #process #firingonallcylinders #aftersales #automotive #parts

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If there is one constant in the Automotive business, it’s that the next unforeseen challenge or crisis is always lurking behind the next corner….or the next month as it were. :) One must demonstrate unrelenting resilience to survive in this business and I applaud everyone for grinding their way over the latest unexpected hurdle. This time the unfortunate CDK cyber attack which stands to reason as a likely contributing factor to the flat YoY performance in June. It’s a very interesting juxtaposition at the moment, isn’t it? SAAR trends over the last few months, the very real Canadian mortgage renewal concerns, continued geopolitical instability, etc., vs more positive indicators such as improved rates, the return of available supply, remaining pent up demand opportunity, etc. Where do you think the industry will land this year? 1.72 million units, 1.75….or even an optimistic 1.8+? Would love to hear your thoughts / opinions. Maybe we can look back in Jan 2025 to see who gets the closest to the pin award. ⛳️

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We will be releasing Collision Parts Source (CPS) in Manitoba, Canada December 2nd. Our collision customers are repairing the majority of vehicles in that province, and CPS will allow those facilities to list and sell inventories amongst themselves, while also providing us the ability to integrate CPS with parts suppliers on either a transaction fee or commission on parts purchases basis. This will allow us to move to a hybrid revenue model of fixed subscription fee + variable transaction/commission fees, increasing the platform subscriber utility while capturing new incremental revenues. We are also getting ready to release our Open Claims Gateway. It is an insurance claims portal, with traditional functionality (assignment, dispatching, desk review, shop/IA/adjustor workflow management and information management). Using AI (natural language processing), it allows its users to decouple estimating product from its workflow by normalizing the estimating systems outputs. Does the world need another insurance claims portal, probably not, except we are following a follower strategy and can provide a system good enough for lower tier insurers (bottom 50% of firms) for 1/10th to 1/2 the cost of existing claims management portals. On another note we are starting in earnest to see where deep learning can be integrated via a restful API, our estimate review portal, claims management, or parts integration. Lots of interesting things going on, as we grow at a deliberate slow rate. We are on track to double monthly reoccurring revenues year over year, all while having a lot of fun doing it.

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2024 #Honda #Civic #Si #BuiltInCanada – ‘…The car #tested here is the #granddaddy of #sport #compacts. It's the #iconic #Honda #Civic #Si, the first car I actually owned, a 1991 EF model. Today, the Si is still #kicking #hard in a #segment that several #carmakers have given up on…The Civic Si has definitely become a #rare bird, but it's one you flock back to due to its ability to #always give you a #good #time. It's also good at convincing your significant other that it's a #sensible #family car, perhaps the most important aspect of purchasing a new car when you're an adult with responsibilities. Combined, these #charming traits allow the Civic Si to #remain an #icon in the sport compact car space…’ #CivicNation William Clavey https://lnkd.in/gcbPNBnn

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In NO competition of any kind, anywhere does anyone serious about winning fund their competition, in their home stadium and with house money. For all the good we are doing in building a technology transition, this is really dumb. You don’t play baseball without a third baseman because the other team will hit it there and then steal that base when they get to second. Why give 🇨🇦 tax dollars to foreign electric imports, especially from subsidized polluters? This is $220M of subsidy on Chinese-made Tesla purchases in 2023 ALONE. “And Canada has imported more than 40,000 Teslas assembled in Shanghai in the past year. Canada is aiming for 100 per cent zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales by 2035. That Ottawa appears intent on achieving that goal regardless of the EVs’ country of origin infuriates Flavio Volpe, influential president of Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association. The eligibility of Canadians for $5,000 federal rebates on Chinese EV purchases strengthens a Chinese EV industry that might someday threaten Canada’s own fledgling EV sector, Volpe believes.” https://lnkd.in/gg4XHW-7

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Today I read an article in Automotive News Canada about a dealer group that had made a decision to sell its “non-profitable and non-core assets” and at the centre of the article were two franchise dealerships. Now the brand of the dealerships have seen their share of struggles of late, but at the end of the day selling product, managing inventory, keeping an eye on expenses should lead to a positive bottom line. And while some will blame the OEM for its woes I would like to pass on some advice that I learned early on in my career, to existing dealers as a reminder, new dealers with their first store and any young entrepreneurs who have sights on owning their own store. “Nothing happens until we sell a car!” Take a moment and think about it. Here is the waterfall effect….. A dealership sells a car - the dealership makes some profit, pays wages, invests in its business, spends money on marketing. Most importantly it needs a replacement. Now the OEM can wholesale a car. And they pay wages, invest in retail programs, events and advertising. Most important, they need to replace that car. The factory now can sell the car to the distributor and they too make some profit, invest in R&D, pay wages etc. The factory now has to replace that asset and they build a car and the suppliers have to provide products to build the car. And then those suppliers make some profit pay wages etc etc and we can keep going all the way down to sourcing the raw materials, never mind the shipping companies and parts business and so many others that play a part in this process. The point is if you remember what’s most important at the beginning, if you understand your goal (Sell a Car), set your targets and focus on achieving your goal…. you will!!!! And if you do a decent job of it you can be very successful in this business. Don’t give up, don’t quit, don’t blame others. Focus on what you were good at that got you the dealership in the first place and good things will happen. #thoughtoftheday #Autobusiness #Leadership

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*** BDC Automotive Talk -"Your Orchestra" Do you ever feel as if your BDC is out of tune? I recently attended a concert series called Candlelight concert. The ambivalence that I felt once the notes penetrated my outer membrane brought upon such calm and delight. Was it the setting? Was it the musicians? Was it the lead person explaining the story behind every song? Perhaps it could even have been the recognizable ballads that I never even imagined could be curated and played with such instruments (Cold play). Be it as it may, I concluded that it was all of it put together. I work with struggling BDC's on a daily basis and seldomly is the disruption of performance attributed to only one element. I like to compare teams of multiple people to an "Orchestra". Sometimes the notes are good but the environment in which they are playing is impaired. Other times it could just as well be the one holding the instrument. As a BDC manager, your core function is to manage the data and coach the people. Ensure that everyone is on the same page and that your process is well tuned so that all your people are in sync. What an absolute beautiful and memorable evening. Replicating this memorable experience over the phone with your customers by creating emotional deposits will lead to the guest experience. BDC Alchemy - "Helping your people thrive, not just survive"

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