Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association President Flavio Volpe has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada, which he calls the honour of a lifetime. The Governor General of Canada, the Right Honourable Mary Simon, announced Volpe as one of 78 new appointees on Thursday.
Volpe received the honour for advancing Canada’s automotive and technology industries on an international scale as a leading policy expert in national trade and industry competition. Created in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest civilian honours, recognizing people across all sectors who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to Canada.
“It is the honour of a lifetime,” said Volpe on his LinkedIn account. “I have dedicated myself to a better Canada in everything that I do and there is nothing as humbling as being recognized by the best country in the world with its highest honour.”
More than 7,000 people from all sectors of Canada have been appointed into the Order. The recipients receive a six-point white enamel insignia symbolizing Canada’s northern heritage and diversity, and will officially be invited to an investiture ceremony sometime in 2024 in Ottawa.
“In everything I’ve ever accomplished of meaning, I have been inspired, supported, and led by people I love and respect. It’s my Team Canada of everyday people who do extraordinary things,” said Volpe in his post. “Someone asked me ‘what will you do next?’ What I’ve always done — honour the sacrifices my parents made and try to set the right example for my children.”
Volpe joined the APMA as President in September, 2014 and along with former APMA Chief Technical Officer Colin Dhillon conceived the idea for Project Arrow, the fully-electric vehicle, zero-emissions SUV concept car that was first unveiled at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show. The car was designed, engineered and built with the help of 60 Canadian-based suppliers and post-secondary institutions.
The APMA will discuss Project Arrow 2.0 at the upcoming Consumers Electronic Show. As many as 20 cars will be built, none of which will be similar. The 2.0 will include more suppliers.
“The first time around we were trying to figure out what a Canadian car looks like,” said Volpe in a recent interview with Electric Autonomy Canada. “This time we have a vehicle, we have a design, we have the engineering. It is an evolution of the product and the platform. Project Arrow is more than just about a car. It should be about the entire Canadian movement into the (EV) space.”
“We’ve got a series of different options. Let’s call it Arrow 2.1 and 2.2 and 2.3 to be the showcase for how you lightweight an EV,” he added.
