Canada relies on foreign auto executives for its auto industry. It already provides huge taxpayer subsidies per job. There is certainly a possible future where all of those foreign loyal companies side with US to destroy Canadian auto production/investment.

  1. China could help save Canadian auto industry by providing motors and batteries for Canadian made EVs. Chinese investment to make goods from Canadian resources in Canada is a path for scale that includes global export potential of autos and other industrial goods to whole globe including China.

  2. If it doesn’t make economic sense to make our own tube socks, it doesn’t make sense to make overly expensive cars, either. There is a stronger national security argument for apparel, that needs yearly replacements, than solar, batteries, and autos that last 20+ years. More so, when they are not dependent on continuous international fuel supply chains/geopolitics.

Pressure on foreign executives to support Canadian production includes access to Canadian market. The stability of status quo will appeal to most people. But the threat/plan B of cooperation with China is both a path to manufacturing and resource FDI paid by China instead of taxpayers, and better quality of life through better value goods.

  • BlameThePeacock@lemmy.ca
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    1 day ago

    I simply mean it can’t be used. Doesn’t even need to be as bad as doing it while driving.

    A foreign power able to disable the transportation for even 1 in 5 personal vehicles would be devestating to the country. The economic effects would be massive.

      • BlameThePeacock@lemmy.ca
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        1 day ago

        The public transportation infrastructure wouldn’t hold up to that large a spike in demand

        Not to mention that public transit doesn’t even exist everywhere in the first place

        Then on top of that, you’d have to pay for public transport while probably still paying off the car loan (which wouldn’t just magically disappear because they break)

        Also, car prices for everyone would go through the roof as demand shoots way up for a couple of years, since there isn’t enough supply from the remaining companies to cover a 1 in 5 replacement for the entire country in any less time.

        Then you’d have to deal with the millions of non-functional vehicles, towing and recycling them.