For Immediate Release
July 9, 2025
Vancouver, BC – The President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC (NCDA) and Executive Director of the Vancouver International Auto Show will be among auto industry leaders attending notable cross-border meetings next week to focus on the most urgent challenges facing dealers around North American.
Held in Montréal, the Canada Auto Shows of North America (ASNA) and the Automotive Trades Association Executives (ATAE) meetings will bring together US and Canada Auto Dealers association and senior industry leaders. The meeting comes at a time of rapid transformation in the sector, including the electrification of vehicles and shifting consumer demand to rising costs and growing uncertainty over trade policy.
“This meeting couldn’t come at a more critical moment,” said Blair Qualey, President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC. “With global and regional headwinds mounting, it’s essential that industry leaders from both countries work together to protect jobs, secure supply chains, and maintain momentum in the shift to zero-emission vehicles.”
Qualey emphasises that while there may be political tensions between the two nations, dealer associations representing the two countries enjoy a relationship that is based on mutual respect and partnership.
Hosting this high-level meeting in Canada is significant, as tariffs and cross-border trade uncertainty are emerging as serious concerns for automakers and dealers alike. With more than $100 billion in two-way automotive trade annually between Canada and the United States, any disruption—whether real or anticipated—can ripple through manufacturing, retail, and service sectors across both countries.
The meetings present a timely opportunity to address how escalating tariff threats from the US could impact vehicle pricing, supply chains, and consumer access. Participants will explore coordinated policy solutions to ensure that trade remains open, predictable, and mutually beneficial—an essential foundation for long-term industry stability.
Qualey and Eric Nicholl, Executive Director of the Vancouver International Auto Show, have also been invited to make a presentation to auto show managers from throughout the continent as part of the Auto Shows of North America (ASNA) agenda.
“There is a widespread appreciation and acknowledgement that the Vancouver Auto Show team has developed an experience that is recognised as a premier event in North America,” said Nicholl. “We look forward to highlighting the success of our record-breaking 2025 event and the strategies we adopted that have elevated VIAS into a major player in the North American auto show circuit.”
About the NCDA: The New Car Dealers Association of BC (NCDA) represents over 400 new car and truck dealers throughout British Columbia who provide 30,000 family supporting jobs and are responsible for close to $17 billion in retail sales in the province. The Association speaks on behalf of the retail automotive industry and advocates on legal, environmental, and consumer issues relating to vehicle sales in British Columbia.
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Contact:
Brendan Quinn
604-805-4821
