As voters decide who will take over the White House, there's a feeling the person who becomes U.S. president will bring in policies that could shift Canada's role in the automotive industry. There are "two completely different visions for the future of the industry" as pitched by the two candidates, says Patrick Anderson, who runs a consultant firm in Michigan that works with manufacturers on both sides of the border.
An employee at the Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant in southwestern Ontario works on the line, assembling a vehicle for the region's largest employer. Auto industry interests are closely watching Tuesday's U.S. election, the results of which could impact the industry on both sides of the border. Volpe worked extensively on negotiations for the new free trade deal for North America and feels something can be negotiated through once again.
That includes the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit, a tax incentive that allows manufacturers to claim up to $45 per kilowatt hour of battery cell and module production. Volpe said the Windsor-based battery plant is a valuable part of the argument for Canada to be included in the United States's automotive future. This is true whether Trump or Harris are leading the way.
"We've taken a clear turn," said Jonathon Hanson, a University of Michigan lecturer and political scientist.