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Major Changes Coming

Autosphere » Mechanical » Major Changes Coming
Jean-François Champagne, President, Automotive Industries Association of Canada. Credit: AIA Canada

From new governments to new policies and changing consumer expectations—a lot is set to happen in 2025.

We’re only just into a new year and already there are big changes taking place. The inauguration of Donald Trump as President on January 20 represents a major change in policy in the U.S., and that will likely have a big impact on Canada, as well as the auto care sector. We’ve already seen a lot of uncertainty emerge around trade and potential tariffs, and if implemented these could have major impacts on the automotive supply chain, causing disruption for our industry.

In 2025, conveying the importance of the auto care sector to politicians, legislators and the public is essential. Credit: AAPEX

Changing consumer behaviour

At AIA Canada we’re also seeing new developments. We’ve also been working on a series of consumer behaviour studies, related to parts, service and repairs in the aftermarket auto care sector. We want to ensure we provide valuable information to our members so they can see firsthand how their customers’ habits and perspectives are changing—giving them the opportunity to ensure they are able to meet and exceed their auto care needs.

Additionally, providing information and insight to the overall health and state of the industry remains key, and we recently released our latest Outlook Study. AIA Canada is also continuing its partnership with the Government of Ontario to help with training and mentorship for service centre owners, including providing career exploration initiatives to attract new technicians, as well as providing upskilling for vital service requirements including ADAS and electric vehicles. Our career exploration program is proving successful in providing an opportunity for youth to have hands-on exposure to automotive service and repair, and many that have partaken in this initiative have shown strong interest in making auto care their career of choice.

In Quebec, our big win, with the adoption of Bill 29, will see regulations for the law published and come into force, which is exciting news for the industry.

Engaging with government

With a federal election on the horizon in Canada, there is also potential changes to Right to Repair legislation that could impact the auto care sector. That’s why it’s critical for us to engage with dialogue among all federal parties to ensure that Right to Repair is included as part of their election platform. This also presents an opportunity for us to start early and work with the potential decision makers in the next government to educate them on the auto care sector and the work that our members do, including the vital roles they play in their communities and the wider economy. This is where, we as an industry have a real opportunity to talk to those candidates who will be door knocking during their election campaigns. Invite them to your auto parts store or repair shop and show them the work that you do, so they can become familiar with our industry and understand the role that we play.

Our AIA Canada National Conference is also taking place March 19, 2025, and will see representatives from our counterpart organizations in the U.S., the Auto Care Association and MEMA attend. We continue to work with them on ensuring fair Right to Repair legislation and data access on both side of the border, and involvement in International Forums helps ensure that these important topics take centre stage in front of a global audience. We also continue to collaborate regularly with our friends from AAAA in Australia, learning how they have implemented solutions for their members on data access.

Making a difference

On a final note, I would just like to mention the importance of staying engaged. Become an AIA Canada member if you have not already, register for our conference and be an ambassador for the industry in talking with local government representatives. Together we can make a difference and ensure our voice is heard at all levels of government—enabling a bright and prosperous future for auto care.

Categories : Editorial, Mechanical
Tags : AIA, AIA Canada

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