Automakers 'cautiously optimistic' on EV mandate changes after meeting with Carney - Business in Vancouver

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Lachlan Wolfers, national leader at KPMG Law, Canada, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss what businesses want ahead of the Federal Budget 2026. As Canada’s business leaders await the release of the 2026 federal budget, a majority say they’re optimistic about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s economic and fiscal plans as long as they lead to “concrete action,” research suggests. On Thursday, KPMG released the results of a recent poll that found 71 per cent of business leaders are expecting a “business-friendly budget that improves their prospects” from the federal Liberals this fall. Although Canada’s economic outlook is clouded by trade tensions with the U. S., the need for lawmakers to put forward a plan that mitigates that uncertainty is partly why leaders are so bullish on the budget, argues Lachlan Wolfers, national leader at KPMG Law Canada. “I’d say the optimism is born out of current economic conditions, which are obviously fragile, but people are cautiously optimistic in the government trying to ensure policy settings encourage further business innovation and investment along the way,” he said.

The big new "it" engine is an EREV. Will it outperform the PHEV? The next popular EV might come with a gas engine. Several car brands, including Hyundai, Genesis, Ram, Jeep, Ford, and Volkswagen-backed Scout Motors, have announced plans to build extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs, by the end of 2028. It's a growing industry bet. After years of lower-than-expected EV adoption, and as gas prices remain elevated, auto executives believe buyers want the experience of electric driving without having to depend on America's charging infrastructure for every long trip. "EREVs are really the next generation of this stepping stone powertrain," Robby DeGraff, the manager of product and consumer insights at AutoPacific, told Business Insider. "These vehicles make a lot of sense for a lot of Americans. "So… what the heck is an EREV?