The Future is Coming

We’ve discussed the impact of the Nissan Leaf on the automotive industry (and the auto job market), and it looks like an emphasis on more fuel efficient technology is starting to bear fruit across the industry.

The BC government, of course, recently announced point-of-sale provincial government rebates of up to $5,000 on electric vehicles. They also introduced smaller incentives on electric-hybrid combinations.  These measures are making it easier for families to afford these eco-friendly cars, and once that happens, you and I both know that carmakers start paying attention.

Car available under the government subsidy include:

• The Nissan Leaf (which was the first purely electric car to arrive on our shores).
• The Mitsubishi i-MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle – this is the lowest priced EV, with a base price of $32,998).
• The Chevrolet Volt (which is a combination electric-gas engine, with a 600 km range)
• The Prius V
• The Honda GX
• The Honda Clarity
• The Mercedes-Benz B-class F-cell (driven by a hydrogen fuel-cell)

The Smart ForTwo ED and an all-electric Ford Focus are also set to arrive next year.

As you can tell from the above list, pretty much every major auto maker has an electric car on the drawing board or in production. This is clearly a sign of the times and an indication that we’re on the cusp of major changes. Far from being a hindrance to the automotive job industry, however, these technical advances represent tremendous job opportunities for graduates of auto mechanic training programs, qualified auto body repair specialists, and, in particular, automotive sales & leasing experts. It’s an exciting time in the automotive industry, and a perfect opportunity to prepare yourself for the career opportunities that lie ahead.