News summary: ambitious water ice ban in Canada, Stellantis floods and more

Welcome to our roundup of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from last week. Catch up and get ready for the weekend, as it’s hard to keep pace in a digital traffic jam.

Here’s what you missed while you were away.

Canada announces future ban on all new combustion-engine cars

This week, the Trudeau government relaunched its plans to completely eliminate the production of new gasoline and diesel cars by 2035. That’s a lofty goal, given that there’s not really a solid plan we’re supposed to follow – in fact, the whole announcement was incredibly vague – but it’s aligned with other environmentally friendly countries that commit to reducing emissions. Omar Alghabra, the Minister of Transport, explained that the government will “expand and strengthen” the existing incentive programs, but other than that it was crickets. So far, approximately 90,000 Canadians drive zero-emission vehicles, and this is in part thanks to a $ 600 million investment from the federal government, which offers drivers a $ 5,000 incentive.

Ontario now has a bunch of new driving laws you should know about

A handful of new motorist laws came into effect in Ontario this week under the Newly enacted Safe Moving Ontarians Act (MOMS). The laws target dangerous driving as well as stunts, but also aim to protect cyclists, pedestrians and road workers, as well as improve the safety of commercial trucks. Fines for certain offenses have also changed under the MOMS Act. Street racing charges have gone from suspending your license for seven days to 30 days, and your vehicle could be impounded for two weeks from the previous one-week summary sentence. New rules also aim to curb chaos in the province the towing industry by requiring new driver certifications and setting standards for roadside assistance.

Flooding at Stellantis plant, many vehicles submerged as Michigan humidity continues

Heavy rains caused flooding in parts of Michigan last week, affecting the auto industry by forcing closures and, in the case of a Stellantis shipyard, potentially ruining a bunch of new vehicles. The roofs of many new Jeeps and Dodges break the surface of the water in viral footage from the Stellantis Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP). Company officials confirm the flooding and say the damage is being assessed, but the vehicles could be destined for scrapping. Find what other havoc the Detroit floods have wrought here.

Man spots major Tesla flaw live on TikTok, but didn’t own the car

A TikToker who went viral for removing what appeared to be a loose airbag module from the center of the steering wheel of a new Model S has since admitted that the car he was happily unboxing was not even his own. Apparently he only let himself in when he was unlocked in the parking lot. You can read about the drama here then look at the “excuses” above to try and figure out for yourself why this guy would pose like this and if there is more to the situation that he isn’t telling us.

Late Rush drummer, Neil Peart’s ‘Silver Surfer’ cars for sale

Neil Peart had a fondness for the world of cars and music, and when the artist died of cancer last January, he left behind an impressive collection of classic cars as well as his incredible discography. This week it was announced that seven of the vehicles from his ‘Silver Surfer’ collection – so named for their color and the way they made their driver feel about cruising the California coast – would be put up for auction.

Some of the Silver Stars include a 1963 Corvette valued at around US $ 150,000, a 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 valued at around US $ 1 million and a finished 1964 Aston Martin DB5 valued at around US $ 700,000. in Silver Birch.