B.C. DEALERS BUILDING BRIDGES WITH CHINESE COUNTERPARTS
Irecently travelled to China to meet with the Chinese Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) on behalf of the New Car Dealers Association (NCDA) of B.C.
I went there to convene with auto officials and support the ongoing relationship with one of the world’s largest economies.
Last year at this time, I joined Premier Christy Clark and a delegation of B.C. business and Aboriginal leaders on a trade mission to various cities in China. During our time in Beijing, the CADA Chairman and I signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between our organizations. Later on that trip, I was honoured to be asked to speak as part of the International Forum at the Chinese Dealers Convention in Xiamen.
Since then, we’ve hosted a delegation from the Chinese dealers at our 2016 Vancouver International Auto Show in March, and as I mentioned, I recently returned to China for various meetings and to once again speak at the Chinese Dealers convention, this time in Zhuhai.
At the 2016 convention, more than 2,000 dealers and suppliers convened, and my hosts asked me to speak about our efforts in partnership with the B.C. government to address environmental issues. Specifically, the Clean Energy Vehicles program (CEVforBC) and B.C. SCRAP-IT program, two incentive programs we operate in the province.
I outlined the importance of incentivizing consumers to consider electric vehicles (EV) when making their next purchase. As many of you know, the CEVforBC rebate cuts up to $5,000 off the pre-tax sticker price of qualifying new EVs, and is often used in conjunction with the SCRAP-IT initiative, which offers various incentives if someone scraps a qualifying older-model vehicle.
The aim of these programs is to get older, higher-polluting cars off the road and drive consumers toward zero emissions models. These initiatives embrace the auto sector’s duty to combat climate change while promoting the continued success of this thriving industry.
While in China, I joined leaders of national New Car Dealer Associations from around the world, including the United States, Russia, Germany, France, UK, Italy and Brazil. Each country joining the convention had valuable remarks and insights to bring to the table to further grow and enhance the industry.
Throughout the convention, we reviewed and discussed various types of EVs — a topic representatives from every country attending were interested and engaged in. Some of the presentations even touched on the idea of time-share leasing, an emerging approach which could save you money by renting a vehicle, while also protecting the environment.
As we all move forward within our respective jurisdictions, it’s important to collaborate with other New Car Dealer Associations to continue to learn and work with one another. We work hard in B.C. to implement best practices within the industry, and meetings like these are just another way to ensure that’s exactly what we’re doing.