Top 10 Moments and Milestones of 2019
Man, time flies! It seems like it was just yesterday that we were ringing in the year 2000. And yet here we are, 2020 is upon us. The next decade is going to mark a revolution in the auto industry and transportation with an unprecedented shift to electric and autonomous vehicles.
Before we get there, let’s take a look at the top 10 moments and milestones that defined 2019…
Major Anniversaries and High-profile Passings
In 2019, Kia celebrated its 20 years and Honda its 50 years in Canada, Lexus, Infiniti and the Mazda Miata/MX-5 turned 30, the Nissan GT-R reached a half-century, the original Mini turned 60 and Citroën celebrated its 100th anniversary. On a sad note, we lost several automotive legends including Niki Lauda, Lee Iaccoca and Ferdinand Piëch.
2019 Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year
At the Toronto Auto Show, the Kia Stinger was crowned the 2019 Canadian Car of the Year, impressing AJAC journalists with its design, performance and bang-for-the-buck factor. Meanwhile, the Jaguar I-PACE was awarded the 2019 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year title. It pleased the voting panel with its combination of driving dynamics, power and driving range.
Ford Invests $500 in Rivian
The $500 million investment by the Blue Oval company in Detroit startup Rivian perfectly illustrates the current transformation of the auto industry. Suddenly, electric pickups have become a big deal. Does Cybertruck ring any bell?
Federal Rebate for EVs
On May 1st, the new federal rebate of $5,000 for the purchase or long-term lease of electric vehicles came into effect. It kind of offset the elimination of Ontario’s EV credit and added to current programs offered in Quebec and British Columbia. Across Canada, sales of EVs increased 22 percent in the first three months of 2019 compared with the same period a year ago.
Farewell to the Volkswagen Beetle
Over 30 models are getting the axe this year, from the tiny smart fortwo to the legendary Volkswagen Beetle. The latter sold more than 20 million units over its long and illustrious career. The final Beetle rolled off the assembly line in Puebla, Mexico in July.
UAW Strike
For the first time since 2007, tens of thousands of U.S. workers at General Motors went on strike on September 16. The work stoppage ended on October 25 after costing the automaker several billions of dollars and postponing the start of production of the new 2020 Chevrolet Corvette to February.
And speaking of GM, we can't forget the closure of the Oshawa assembly plant in Ontario on December 18.
Trump Goes to War
The Trump administration’s protectionist policies, which include tariffs on steel and aluminum, largely affected the auto industry in 2019. Meanwhile, the president is rolling back regulations meant to make cars and trucks more fuel-efficient, waging war against California and other states that want to set their own regulations.
Nissan’s Awful Year
Former boss Carlos Ghosn is still facing justice, new CEO Hiroto Saikawa resigned in September amidst fraud allegations, more than 10,000 jobs are being cut around the globe, profits are falling and a few models won’t return as part of cost-saving measures. Hopefully 2020 will be a better year for Nissan.
FCA-PSA merger
On October 31, PSA and Fiat-Chrysler officially and unanimously agreed to a merger of equals in a deal that includes no job losses or plant closures. The newly formed entity will create the fourth largest global OEM in terms of unit sales (8.7 million vehicles annually). This merger came just a few months after the failed attempt by FCA to join forces with another French automaker, Renault.
Ford v Ferrari Hits Theatres
This was easily one of the most anticipated movies by car and racing enthusiasts in the past few years. It depicts how Ford famously and shockingly swept the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966 with the legendary GT40 Mk II. Have you seen it yet?