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Automotive

  • Download PDF
  • Key Contacts
  • Select Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services
  • Download PDF
  • Select Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services

The automotive industry is experiencing exceptional change and disruption, which includes: transition to EVs, new OEM entrants, critical mineral supply for EVs and hybrids (not ICEs), and increasing manufacturing capacity for batteries and EVs.

At the same time, opportunities abound not only for automotive manufacturers, suppliers and dealers, but also for supply chains in other industries and for all levels of government. Advances such as electrification and autonomous vehicles and shifts in consumer choices driven by the desire for sustainability and on-demand mobility, are spurring technological developments across the sector.

We assist all types of automotive clients in navigating this evolving and highly regulated landscape, as innovative incumbents and agile new players alike embrace new technologies and chart the future of personal and commercial mobility. Whether in commercial, regulatory or advocacy matters, our clients benefit from our efficient, practical legal solutions that align with commercial business objectives. With valuable in-house experience with automotive companies in legal, governance and leadership roles, our lawyers have a unique understanding to support designers, suppliers, original equipment manufacturers, technology developers, distributors and service providers.

A Multi-Disciplinary Legal Team

Our team is backed by collaborative and experienced lawyers from all areas of the firm. Our expertise includes:

Capital Projects

Our Capital Projects and Construction team combines our deep automotive industry insight with legal know-how to offer seamless assistance in the development, financing, permitting and operation of greenfield and brownfield projects, including EV-charging and other EV-related infrastructure projects. We also help foster partnerships and collaborations among governmental bodies, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders to support automotive advancements. Our expertise includes:

  • Navigating regulatory & environmental requirements: Identifying and assisting in obtaining key approvals and permits, and leveraging opportunities in government policies and initiatives for the construction and operation of automotive facilities.
  • Identifying government incentives and other opportunities: Forging partnerships with government bodies, and staying informed of government incentives, tax breaks, grants and subsidies for automotive infrastructure projects.
  • Developing contracts: Drafting and negotiating contracts for manufacturing plants, distribution centres and other automotive facilities.
  • Risk management: Helping identify and manage risks associated with project financing, delays and defects.
  • Resolving disputes: Keeping projects on track by dealing with construction disputes and regulatory issues.
  • Focusing on sustainability: Infusing each decision with a sustainability lens and identifying related risks and opportunities.

Learn more about our Capital Projects experience

Corporate and M&A

With abundant domestic, cross-border and international transactional expertise, our M&A lawyers advise automotive industry participants on all types of public and private mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and distressed sale processes. We have also assisted clients, including one of the world's largest auto manufacturers, overhaul and update their supplier agreements.

We leverage our deep automotive industry expertise in litigation, finance, regulatory, technology and insolvency to deliver true value to leading OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers and sector specific infrastructure and technology developers. Our team understands the unique risks and opportunities facing automotive industry players, including the unique ecosystem of relationships and complex supply chains.

Learn more about our Corporate and M&A experience.

Corporate Finance and Financial Services

Our Corporate Finance and Financial Services lawyers are industry leaders in complex financing transactions in Canada and regularly provide creative finance solutions to some of the largest automotive industry players as well as new entrants.

We advise on financial transactions including debt facilities, public and private debt capital market issuances, loan and lease portfolio securitizations and financings, third party customer financing and leasing programs, including OEM subvention arrangements, dealer floorplan financings, rental program securitizations, distressed and restructured debt matters, asset-based loans, and mezzanine commercial loan transactions.

Learn more about our Corporate Finance and Financial Services experience. 

Litigation

We handle all types of dispute resolution—mediation, arbitration and litigation—appearing before all levels of court in Canada. We have been lead counsel on many of the highest profile matters in Canada's automotive industry. We regularly advise on:

  • class actions;
  • product liability matters;
  • regulatory enforcement matters;
  • sales and marketing liability (including warranties); and
  • commercial and dealer disputes.

Various auto manufacturers have relied on us in contested and settlement-focused defences, which has given us valuable experience developing and executing litigation strategies that best advance business priorities and builds credibility with courts and other parties.

A significant portion of our work involves cross-border claims and claims made in conjunction with regulatory processes or recalls. Accordingly, we have deep familiarity with U.S. law concerning auto liability and regulatory obligations and exposures. We are comfortable managing the global strategic impacts of multi-jurisdictional litigation processes and the interrelationships among litigation defences, regulatory investigations and recall obligations.

Learn more about our Commercial Litigation, Class Action, Product Liability and Product Regulation experience.

Regulatory & Government Affairs

We help automotive industry participants with the complex domestic and global regulations they face, including:

  • vehicle and equipment safety and conformity;
  • emissions;
  • zero emission vehicle sales mandates and incentives;
  • consumer protection;
  • equipment (including charging infrastructure and repair tools); 
  • dealer licensing;
  • all environmental matters (including material and chemical conformity, stationary environmental, transportation of dangerous goods, and circular economy/producer responsibility mandates and programs);
  • occupational safety and worker's compensation;
  • "right to repair"
  • recalls;
  • insurance;
  • lobbying and government incentives;
  • privacy;
  • trade; and
  • tax (including luxury tax).

Learn more about our Regulatory and Government Affairs experience.

Employment Services

Our automotive clients rely on our strategic advice through every stage of the employment relationship, including: 

  • Hiring: Drafting best practice contracts, advising on enforceability of employment contracts and drafting compensation policies.
  • Administration: Working with you on appropriate accommodations, disciplinary measures, and workplace investigations.
  • Ending relationships: Structuring severance packages and drafting separation agreements.

We also advise on labour and union matters, collective bargaining and the range of other issues that can arise from reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions, occupational health and safety issues, compensation concerns, and pensions and benefits arrangements. Our services include advice and litigation support in claims of wrongful and constructive dismissal, class actions and restrictive covenants. We also act as counsel in grievance arbitrations.

Learn more about our Employment Services experience.

Mining and Critical Minerals

The transition to electric vehicles will rapidly change the commodity mix that supports vehicle production. Critical minerals, including those required for battery production, are seeing renewed exploration and development activities in Canada. Nickel, copper, cobalt, and lithium use is projected to rise considerably.

Government supports are ramping up for critical minerals exploration and development, and for collaborations to build battery plants and retool the automotive sector for the transition to electrification. Our Mining group is actively assisting issuers in the activities and projects that will be essential to a successful transition. Additionally, with Canada's good fortune of hosting more than 50% of its capital markets activities in mining, there are ample opportunities for project and capital exposure globally.

Opportunities in green and brownfield assets in Canada are further spurring Canada's exploration, development, and mining activities to support a new range of automotive industry demands, both domestically and with Canada's trading partners.

Learn more about our Mining and Critical Minerals experience.

Tax

Our specialist tax lawyers are an integral part of the structuring and negotiation of our clients' transactions and litigation. Our automotive industry clients rely on our sophisticated tax planning advice in areas such as income tax, commodity (sales) tax, luxury tax and transfer pricing. We also assist in the implementation of tax-efficient transactions to help our clients maximize investment and operational returns.

In the context of litigation, we likewise provide advice and support to ensure tax-efficient settlements and/or recoveries.

Learn more about our Tax experience.

Trade

Having notable expertise and strengths in international trade and investment law means that we can offer our automotive industry clients truly strategic advice on import/export issues, customs and trade, and other cross-border issues. We have worked extensively with OEMs, automotive equipment manufacturers and suppliers to mitigate risks and solve problems with customs and regulatory agencies globally, often in real time, in the trade and movement of essential products.

We also support dispute resolution matters related to trade agreements that pertain to the automotive sector.

Learn more about our Trade experience.

Privacy, Technology and Intellectual Property

Electrification, EV infrastructure, autonomous and connected vehicles, vehicle and ride-sharing applications, V2X communication, in-car purchases and features on demand, process improvements across the supply chain – the list of automotive sector innovations is constantly evolving. Our technology lawyers assist our automotive clients on how to best protect their interests and remain nimble. As automotive companies continue to adapt their product and service offerings amidst constant innovation, we can advise on a variety of matters, including:

  • procurement and licensing of technology;
  • commercialization of technology to both dealers and end-user customers;
  • privacy, data protection and cybersecurity;
  • registration and enforcement of intellectual property rights; and
  • compliance of marketing and advertising programs.

Learn more about our Technology and IP experience.

Our Commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

Bennett Jones' extensive experience in the Canadian ESG landscape makes us an invaluable partner on the path to net zero. With the automotive sector playing a crucial role in achieving net zero, we help our automotive sector clients identify and implement ESG mechanisms as key decision-making tools to reach this goal:

  • We help manufacturers working in Canada to navigate the nuances of Canadian ESG regulation, and to assess the sustainability of their operations accordingly.
  • We understand the existing and rapidly developing regulatory requirements specific to Canada, such as circular economy regulations, extended producer obligations and upcoming modern slavery legislation. 
  • We collaborate with various local stakeholders, build relationships with Indigenous communities and address ESG litigation risks specific to Canada. 

Learn more about our ESG expertise or our other advisory services.

Client interview

"Their strength is in their ability to effectively function as a team. Advice is prompt and clear; it is apparent that there is alignment among the team with significant trust between team members."

Client interview

"One client enthuses: 'I have been impressed with their legal analysis as well as their ability to comprehend the complex situation of the case.'"

Featured Insights

Electric Vehicles and Critical Minerals
BC Hydro's Bold Move After 15 Years
Volkswagen's $7B EV Gigafactory in Canada

Key Contacts

  • Yannick  Beaudoin Yannick Beaudoin, Partner
  • Matthew  Flynn Matthew Flynn, Partner
  • Leonard J. Griffiths Leonard J. Griffiths, Partner
  • Ilan  Ishai Ilan Ishai, Partner
  • Michael C. Smith Michael C. Smith, Partner
  • Cheryl M. Woodin Cheryl M. Woodin, Partner
  • Related Lawyers

Select Experience

Corporate and M&A
Financial Services
Litigation
Regulatory & Government Affairs
Capital Projects
A major automotive manufacturer, on investments in charging stations across Canada
A major retail chain, with contracting for the design, implementation and operation of electric vehicle stations and related renewable battery infrastructure
MPE Partners, as Canadian counsel, in the US$255-million sale of its portfolio company dlhBowles inc., a provider of engineer plastic solutions to multiple industries, to ABC Technologies Holdings Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of custom, highly engineered technical plastics and lightweighting innovations to the global automotive industry
The Limestone Boat Company in its US$6.25-million acquisition of Ebbtide Holdings, LLC, and a concurrent US$14.1-million private placement financing
discoverIE (formerly Acal PLC) in connection with its acquisition of Plitron Manufacturing Inc.
Riverstone Holdings LLC in its US$71-million equity investment in Lithium Royalty Corp
Sageview Capital in the approximately US$60 million financing by way of convertible preferred shares in the capital of Intelligent Imaging Systems Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Drivewyze Inc.
The Catalyst Capital Group Inc in the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Advantage-Rent-a-Car pursuant to a sale process under Section 363 of the US Bankruptcy Code
Westport Innovations Inc. in its merger with Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc.
Woodbridge Foam Corporation in its acquisition of Hematite Holdings Inc., pursuant to the insolvency process of Hematite Group
VW Credit Canada, with the securitization of its Canadian consumer auto loan portfolio
General Motors of Canada, with the “GM Card” in Canada, a co-branded credit card issued by The Bank of Nova Scotia
VW Credit Canada, with the securitization of its Canadian consumer auto lease portfolio
VW Credit Canada, with the Volkswagen’s €25-billion debt issuance programme and with the Canadian private placement of medium-term notes
General Motors of Canada, with its consumer special finance programs with several Canadian banks
SCI Lease Corp., with the development and securitization of an exclusive manufacturer subvented auto lease origination and funding program
Volkswagen AG in a securities class action alleging misrepresentations in Volkswagen’s public disclosures related to NOx emissions
General Motors in defence of class actions alleging product defects in the Takata airbags used on certain brands of GM cars and trucks
Hyundai Canada and Kia Canada in defence of a class action alleging that ZF TRW airbags used in certain cars and trucks are defective
Meritor, Inc. in defence of a class action alleging price fixing in the sale of automotive exhaust systems
NTN Bearing Corporation in defence of nationwide competition class actions related to automotive and industrial bearings
Delphi Automotive in defence and resolution of competition class actions related to automotive wire harnesses
ALPHA Corporation in defence of a class action alleging price fixing in the sale of automotive access mechanisms
Hyundai Canada and Kia Canada in defence of a class action alleging that their Theta II engine is prone to clogging in the lubrication systems resulting in premature wear of the engine components and catastrophic engine failure
ZF Friedrichshafen AG in defence of a class action alleging anti-competitive conduct related to its braking systems
Volkswagen in defence of various class actions arising from alleged misrepresentations relating to the emissions of its 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre diesel vehicles
Panasonic Corporation and its related entities in defence of class actions alleging anti-competitive conduct in the sale and supply of automotive air conditioners
Bridgestone Corporation and related entities in defence of a class action alleging price fixing in the sale of anti-vibration rubber parts, and a related investigation by the Competition Bureau
General Motors in nationwide class actions alleging product defects in its ignition switches on certain brands of cars and trucks
Webasto SE in defence of a class action alleging anti-competitive conduct related to its parking heaters, and a related investigation by the Competition Bureau
Volkswagen in defence of a Canada-wide class action relating to CO2 emissions from various gasoline powered Audi vehicles
TRW Automotive (now a subsidiary of ZF Friedrichshafen AG) in defense and resolution of competition class actions related to occupant safety systems
General Motors in a class action alleging product defects in a fuel pump installed on certain brands of cars and trucks
Nippon Seiki in defence of competition class actions related to instrument panel clusters and fuel senders
Hyundai Canada in defence of a class action alleging misrepresentation in fuel consumption claims
Nucap Industries Inc., one of the largest manufacturers of after-market brake components in the world, in defence of a claim by German manufacturer Bosch in a claim for breach of a supply contract
Toyota Motor North America, Inc. in defence of a class action alleging it engaged in anti-competitive conduct through implementation of its Access Program
Usui International Corporation and Usui Co. in defence of a class action alleging anti-competitive conduct related to its automotive steel tubes
Volkswagen AG and affiliates in defence of class actions alleging a conspiracy in the price and design of car components
New Flyer Industries, leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses, in its initial public offering of $200 million in income deposit securities
An automotive company, advising on regulatory enforcement and compliance with emission controls requirements
An automotive company, on environmental compliance and regulatory matters related to the automotive sector
A major municipality, on its EV policy initiatives and the regulation of EV charging infrastructure
Volkswagen, in its selection process for development of a $7B flagship North American EV battery manufacturing facility
A major retail chain, with contracting for the design, implementation and operation of electric vehicle stations and related renewable battery infrastructure
A utility company, on the rollout of various electric vehicle charging infrastructure
A major municipality, on its EV policy initiatives and the regulation of EV charging infrastructure

Recent Recognition

Chambers Canada
Environment (Band 1); Competition/Antitrust; Corporate/Commercial: The Elite (Alberta & Ontario), Highly Regarded (BC); Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence); Intellectual Property; International Trade/WTO; Real Estate (Alberta, Ontario, BC & Nationwide)
Chambers Global
Band 1, Environment; International Trade/WTO
Band 2, Competition/Antitrust; Corporate/M&A; Disputes (International & Cross Border)
Band 5, Intellectual Property
The Legal 500 Canada
Dispute Resolution: Alberta (Tier 1); Environment (Tier 1); Capital Markets; Competition and Antitrust; Corporate and M&A; Dispute Resolution: Ontario; Intellectual Property; International Expertise; International Trade; Real Estate
Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Most Frequently Recommended, Class Actions (Toronto); Corporate Commercial Law (Calgary); Environmental Law (Calgary); Property Development (Toronto); Property Leasing (Calgary)
Consistently Recommended, Competition Law (Calgary, Toronto); Corporate Commercial Law (Edmonton, Toronto); Environmental Law (Toronto, Vancouver); Intellectual Property (Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto); Property Development (Calgary, Vancouver)
Repeatedly Recommended, Property Development (Edmonton)

Insights, News & Events

Blog

Canada Imposes 25% Retaliatory Surtax on Certain US Goods

March 05, 2025
       

Blog

Driving Compliance: Updates to Canada’s Motor Vehicle and Equipment Safety Regulations

January 30, 2025
       

Blog

Plaintiffs Fail to Show "Some Basis in Fact" for Certification in Two Proposed Vehicle Defect Class Actions at Saskatchewan Court of Appeal

November 25, 2024
       

Related Services

Commercial Transactions
Intellectual Property Law
Mining
Transportation
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