The automaker, which made more vehicles in Canada than any of its rivals last year, is reportedly seeking billions in federal assistance to add electric-vehicle manufacturing capacity in the country. The federal government has said it will limit future mega-subsidies, preaching a first-come, first-serve approach. (Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail)

Talking point: The rhetoric might not bode well for Ontario, which the Star said is competing with Michigan, North Carolina and Texas for the new EV plant, possibly near its existing Cambridge, Ont., facility. The government has been under pressure to stem subsidies after matching massive U.S. incentives to snag investments from Volkswagen, Stellantis and Northvolt. Toyota has been criticized recently for its slow transition from hybrids to EVs. In Canada, it was an early booster of lower-emission vehicles, building multiple hybrid models including the Rav4, Lexus RX 350h and 500h. It’s also a major manufacturing employer, assembling 433,412 vehicles in Canada in 2022, compared with the lowest producer, Ford, which DesRosiers Automotive Consultants said made 137,371.