General Motors Canada’s saving grace was new investment for the Oshawa, Ontario assembly plant last year, but company president Steve Carlisle has his eye on a much bigger prize.
Carlisle spoke during the Automotive News Canada Congress and stated Canada is poised to be a major part of the disruption occurring in the automotive industry.
“Some are calling this the fourth industrial revolution,” Carlisle said. “We think of it as an opportunity, and an opportunity to have a lot of fun.”
GM Canada was previously awarded a high-profile hub for future technology in the Markham Software Center to develop the latest autonomous, safety and other vehicle technology. Carlisle stated the Canadian government and companies must continue to partner with its universities and provide the necessary resources to capitalize on the jobs of the future.
“Canada’s rate of adaptation to these new trends and innovation remains low when we compare ourselves to international counterparts,” Carlisle said. “Our leadership in the global economy will depend on our ability to capture the benefits of these trends.”
The Markham Software Center accounted for 1,000 new jobs in the country alone, and Canada’s ability to emerge as a leader in this technology rests on how quickly the country can prioritize the changes occurring before us all.
Comment
Not to be that guy, but if you’re using an official name, you should spell it correctly: Markham Software Centre.
Cheers!