The Montreal International Auto Show (MIAS) finally reappeared on the calendar, after a two-year absence. 

Although this year’s event was on a smaller scale, due to the supply-chain challenges of manufacturers, visitors still admired and discovered many new vehicles and technology, including the 67 electric vehicles (EVs) plug-in electric, hybrid and hydrogen, in addition to Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Lexus, MINI, VinFast and Tesla Laval models.

The Canadian auto dealer and Affaires Automobiles team saw the unveiling of the Kia EV6 GT, Hyundai’s SEVEN concept and the 2024 Subaru Impreza, and were there to meet former National Hockey League (NHL) players Yvan Cournoyer and Marcel Dionne at the Hyundai booth. Visitors could also admire Luc Poirier’s auto collection, including a dozen Ferraris such as the 288 GTO, LaFerrari Aperta, the F40 and F50, a few Porsches and the all-new McLaren Artura.

The prestige vehicle dealer Automobiles Etcetera was also on hand to present a dozen vehicles, including 2 Bugattis, a Maserati and a Rolls Royce Phantom. Racing enthusiasts admired eight Shelby cars, including the Daytona model. Lamborghini Montreal presented the all-new 2024 Lotus EMIRA for the first time. In all, there are 45 high-performance vehicles.

“We are very excited to be back with an in-person event,” said Luis Pereira, Executive Director of MIAS. “Many have not had the chance to see new models for a long time. Now is the time to catch up. We are presenting new features, some of which are even available for test drives.” Test drives of green vehicles are made possible thanks to CAA-Quebec. “MIAS is the best place to discover and see all green vehicles. And that’s how we’re going to get electric Quebec rolling”, said Martin Taillandier, president of the Auto Show.

In addition to the Auto Show, there were many industry social events before the big VIP evening. The Affaire Automobile team also attended the Scotiabank event, where the 2023 cohort of the Women in Automotive Accelerator program was introduced, along with the announcement that the successful program will be going national this year. 

The Montreal Auto Show Preview Benefit Evening is always a highly anticipated gala for the automotive industry, which raises money for the benefit of six hospital foundations in Greater Montreal.

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The Montreal International Auto Show (MIAS) finally reappeared on the calendar, after a two-year absence. The 78th edition was held from January 20 to January 29 at the Palais des Congrès and was presented by iA Auto and Home Insurance.

The iA Auto and Home Insurance, iA Auto Finance, and its iA Services divisions will remain sponsors for the next three years. “At a time when it is more difficult for the automotive industry, it is a great pleasure to be able to support this long-awaited event,” said Sébastien Alajarin, Regional Vice-President Quebec, iA-Dealer Services at iA Financial Group.

This year will mark Bertrand Godin’s 20th year as spokesperson for the Show. President for this year is Martin Taillandier, the General Manager of BMW Canbec and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation of Montreal Automobile Dealers (CCAM). Benoit Charette, Minister of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, spoke a few words just before the official opening, talking about the transition to electric vehicles and government’s EV incentives.

Although this year’s event was on a smaller scale, due to the supply-chain challenges of manufacturers, visitors still admired and discovered many new vehicles and technology, including the 67 electric vehicles (EVs) plug-in electric, hybrid and hydrogen, in addition to Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Lexus, MINI, VinFast and Tesla Laval models.

The Canadian auto dealer and Affaires Automobiles team saw the unveiling of the Kia EV6 GT, Hyundai’s SEVEN concept and the 2024 Subaru Impreza, and were there to meet former National Hockey League (NHL) players Yvan Cournoyer and Marcel Dionne at the Hyundai booth. Visitors could also admire Luc Poirier’s auto collection, including a dozen Ferraris such as the 288 GTO, LaFerrari Aperta, the F40 and F50, a few Porsches and the all-new McLaren Artura.

“We are very excited to be back with an in-person event,” said Luis Pereira, Executive Director of MIAS. “Many have not had the chance to see new models for a long time.” Test drives of green vehicles were made possible thanks to CAA-Quebec. “MIAS is the best place to discover and see all green vehicles. And that’s how we’re going to get electric Quebec rolling,” said Martin Taillandier.

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) took advantage of MIAS to present the winners of the twelve categories in the race for the titles of Canadian Car of the Year and Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year 2023. The category winners are: Mazda3, Genesis G90, Hyundai Elantra N, Toyota Corolla Cross, Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Telluride, Lexus NX, Volvo XC90, Ford Maverick, RAM 1500, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and BMW i4. The winners of the 2023 Canadian Car of the Year and 2023 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year awards will be presented at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto on February 16, 2023.

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Francis Gingras, Vice President of Business Development at SERTI

You don’t survive for decades in the business of providing IT and software to dealerships without adapting to meet changing industry needs.

Quebec-based DMS provider SERTI Dealership System, has evolved over many years since its humble start up in 1975, when founder Jean-Marc Thibault founded Les Services Serti Inc. reselling IBM solutions. In 1998, Services Serti inc. became SERTI Informatique Inc., and became an Elite Partner with IBM Canada — the first company to achieve this status in Eastern Canada.

In 1988, SERTI signed a partnership agreement with an American software firm, and they adapted their software for the auto industry, and translated it into French. It was renamed SDS (for Serti Dealership System) and the first dealership in Quebec installed the software.

The company spread its wings outside of Quebec, winning clients in Ontario and Atlantic Canada, and now has more than 285 employees.

As dealership needs have changed, so has the technology. The company now offers its software via the cloud, so customers only need Internet access to operate it. The company works closely with dealers and dealer groups to ensure their software constantly evolves. “Our programmers are always ready to meet the needs of customers and manufacturers,” said Francis Gingras, SERTI’s Vice President of Business Development. “There are a multitude of products that complement our DMS offering.”

The company says it strives to provide the best customer experience for its clients. “It’s our sales approach, our way of looking at customers, both for the dealership and anything else,” said Gingras. This includes providing high levels of training and product support. “It’s a product that has evolved for 30 years with a lot of new features. We do not stagnate at SERTI, we evolve constantly.”

The company expects to introduce new features in 2018, including more mobile capabilities, texting, online appointment booking, and more.

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Jean-Marc Bourassa, who passed away in 2017, and Fred Pechet, were recognized for their accomplishments. Robert B. Issenman, President and CEO of LAR, addressed the 40 or so people that attended the event, including Bourassa’s children. He said his only regret was not having conducted the tribute while Bourassa was alive.

The idea to form LAR was born in the 1970s between two friends, Bourassa and Pechet. The company started off as a small group of dealers (less than a dozen), and has since extended to more than 1,800 in the six eastern provinces of Canada, and seven states in the U.S. Sales have reached approx. $200 million annually. The company’s main distribution centre is located in Pointe-Claire, Montreal, but there is another one in Saint John, N.B., and a new centre is expected to open in Delton, B.C. in the first quarter of 2018.

During the tribute, Issenman took the opportunity to unveil a commemorative plaque to celebrate the accomplishments and memory of LAR’s founders. On the spur of the moment, Pechet took the floor to say a few words about the company, which continues to evolve.

Marc Bourassa, who is very active in the automobile industry, including having recently been the President of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), also said a few words. “These people have been incredible visionaries,” he said in reference to the two founders. “My father would have liked to be here and see that. Thank you for this tribute Mr. Issenman.”

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