We’re in the golden age of the automobile
There have never been more opportunities for students looking to work in the sector
This is my second last Toronto Star Wheels column as president of the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) and I want to weigh in on some of the developments occurring in the automobile industry.
It could be argued that we are living in a golden age of the automobile, based on the incredible advancements in auto technology, design, performance and safety. Today, car shoppers are faced with a diverse array of options — dozens of brands and hundreds of models and the parity among brands has never been higher.
In recent years, the car-buying experience has evolved by leaps and bounds.
An emerging trend is leasing. After falling victim to a low of 7 per cent in 2009, leasing has made a comeback. Today, it represents about 20 per cent of all new-car purchases in Canada.
Analysts predict leasing could go as high as 25 per cent within a few years.
For anyone interested in pursuing a career in the auto sector, there have never been more opportunities for students and those looking to change careers.
The retail automobile industry needs qualified candidates in all areas — accounting, administration, sales, technical diagnostics and repairs, human resources, mar- keting and management.
The carsandjobs.com website has become a popular hub for men and women looking for careers in the auto sector and for dealers looking to fill available positions.
Carsandjobs.com also includes a list of all of the colleges and universities in Ontario that offer automotive courses and programs.
Automotive is one of the most robust industries in Ontario, employing 49,000 people and generating $29 billion in retail sales in Ontario (not to mention thousands of jobs in auto manufacturing and feeder industries).
Safety continues to be a hot-button issue among automakers and consumers. Manufacturers are making steady improvements to electronic safety systems, such as lane-departure alert systems, adaptive cruise control and emergency braking systems.
Last September, a number of major automakers vowed to make automatic emergency braking systems standard on all of their vehicles in the near future.
One of the interesting developments in automotive innovation these days is the partnerships between automakers and technology firms.
In particular, Google and Apple have been working to develop autonomous driving technologies and in-car connectivity.
According to techcrunch.com, vehicles with built-in connectivity are expected to comprise 90 per cent of the total automotive market by 2020.
Safety on our roads and highways continues to dominate discussions in the media, as well as among automakers and consumers. Despite the introduction of stiffer penalties in Ontario last year, distracted driving is still the No. 1 cause of deaths on roads across the province.
Police forces, government agencies, automobile associations and consumer groups continue to spread the word about the dangers of this type of driving offence. TADA is a strong advocate for safe driving and our association utilizes all of its platforms and resources to urge drivers to put down their mobile phones while driving.
In my final column next week, I’ll look back at some of the highlights of our industry over the past year. Stay tuned. This column represents the views of TADA. Email president@tada.ca or go to tada.ca. Doug Sullivan is president of the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association of Ontario. He is a new car dealer in Huntsville, Ont.