Automotive expert analysis on North American and global automotive sector trends

Industry Canada (IC) develops and implements policies and initiatives to encourage innovation, international competitiveness and sustainable growth in the automotive manufacturing sector and other industries that manufacture land-based transportation equipment such as rail, heavy trucks and buses. IC fulfils its mission by gathering and analyzing sectoral and business intelligence to develop evidence-based policies, strategies and programs that promote trade, attract investment, advance new technologies and skills, and enhance competitiveness. As one of Canada’s largest manufacturing sector, the automotive industry is a key driver of Canada’s economy. The industry contributes about 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs over 115,000 Canadians in assembly and auto parts manufacturing. Furthermore, there are about 365,000 jobs in aftermarket, wholesale and dealerships across Canada. Diversity within Canada’s automotive footprint includes five (5) global vehicle manufacturers (GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota and Honda) which are concentrated in southern Ontario with over 750 auto suppliers, as well as a variety of automotive researchers across Canada. Given the importance of the automotive sector to Canada’s economic interests, over the past three (3) years, IC had put in place contracts with some key automotive experts in order to efficiently access external automotive expertise. These contracts proved to be useful in both supplementing IC’s automotive sector expertise and in covering areas it did not normally cover (e.g. financial and corporate governance, plant risk assessment), and in enabling IC to receive strategic information and intelligence from multiple perspectives on a timely and as-needed basis. Most recently, a significant industry development program – the Automotive Innovation Fund ($250M over five (5) years), has been renewed by the Government of Canada to ensure the long term sustainability of the Canadian automotive sector. Continuing to acquire a comprehensive understanding of global and Canadian automotive industry development trends and companies’ performance are important for IC to ensure proper governance, monitor the industry and carry out sound policies and programs. As such, IC periodically chooses to acquire the services of external experts to supplement its internal expertise. To satisfy its specific information needs, Industry Canada is seeking a Contractor that produces forecasts concerning vehicles sales and production in North America and globally on a brand and plant basis, as well as forecasts on production of powertrain. The information needs to be as up-to-date as possible, and take into account the newest events and trends. As such, Industry Canada expects these forecasts to be completely revised monthly and quarterly, when actual data and new intelligence are available. Industry Canada intends to establish a contract to have access to these forecasts and to the related verbal and written advice (including potential day workshops), on an as required basis. The Contractor must provide a direct, single point of contact with specific expertise in the North American and global automotive sector. More specifically, this point of contact must be closely acquainted with the monthly and quarterly forecasts (and revisions of forecasts) on vehicle sales and production, and on powertrain production, both at the North American and global level.