Aug. 7, 2026 | The week’s top stories and VW’s Edgar Estrada on sales, product, EVs, affordability

Stellantis is telling its in-house transport drivers to not use the new Gordie Howe International Bridge or risk discipline.

That's according to a pair of unions representing drivers in the U.S. and Canada.

A UAW Local 212 Facebook post says the company is locked into a flat-rate toll agreement with the Ambassador Bridge.

That requires drivers to keep using the old span.

Meanwhile, Uniforce says Canadian drivers are also using the Ambassador Bridge while talks with Stellantis continue.

The automaker tells Automotive News Canada it's looking forward to using the new crossing, but it will not comment on proprietary information.

In trade news, Stellantis Canada CEO Trevor Longley says the company is preparing for the possibility that a renegotiated North American trade deal will not eliminate auto tariffs.

Longley says the automaker wants stability and certainty before making long-term investment decisions.

He also says Stellantis continues talks with governments and Unifor on the future of the idled Brampton assembly plant.

He offered no timeline for a decision.

And finally, on the EV front, New Brunswick is investing $5 million to add 16 new fast chargers to its public EV charging network.

The province says the chargers will be installed in underserved areas, while new stations are also planned for three provincial parks.

New Brunswick is also expanding its government EV fleet and building charging hubs in Moncton, St. John, and Miramichi as part of its climate strategy.

And that's a look at some of the top stories of the week.

For more on those and others, head to our website, automotivenews.ca. Coming up, my conversation with Volkswagen Canada CEO, Edgar Estrada.

Stellantis is telling its in-house transport drivers to not use the new Gordie Howe International Bridge or risk discipline.

That's according to a pair of unions representing drivers in the U.S. and Canada.

A UAW Local 212 Facebook post says the company is locked into a flat-rate toll agreement with the Ambassador Bridge.

That requires drivers to keep using the old span.

Meanwhile, Uniforce says Canadian drivers are also using the Ambassador Bridge while talks with Stellantis continue.

The automaker tells Automotive News Canada it's looking forward to using the new crossing, but it will not comment on proprietary information.

In trade news, Stellantis Canada CEO Trevor Longley says the company is preparing for the possibility that a renegotiated North American trade deal will not eliminate auto tariffs.

Longley says the automaker wants stability and certainty before making long-term investment decisions.

He also says Stellantis continues talks with governments and Unifor on the future of the idled Brampton assembly plant.

He offered no timeline for a decision.

And finally, on the EV front, New Brunswick is investing $5 million to add 16 new fast chargers to its public EV charging network.

The province says the chargers will be installed in underserved areas, while new stations are also planned for three provincial parks.

New Brunswick is also expanding its government EV fleet and building charging hubs in Moncton, St. John, and Miramichi as part of its climate strategy.

And that's a look at some of the top stories of the week.

For more on those and others, head to our website, automotivenews.ca. Coming up, my conversation with Volkswagen Canada CEO, Edgar Estrada.