The Unobvious Ones is a month-to-month take a look at movers and shakers who fly beneath the radar within the Canadian auto trade.

BRITTANY CRAMER

PLANNING AHEAD FOR ICE AND ELECTRICITY

As Volkswagen strikes deeper into electrification, the automaker wants individuals who perceive the distinctive facets of the brand new automobiles. Brittany Cramer, certainly one of 4 product planning managers at Volkswagen Canada in Ajax, Ont., is liable for the upcoming electrical ID7 sedan and ID Buzz van, in addition to the internal-combustion Jetta.

“I assist handle what fashions come to Canada, what options they provide and the way they’re priced all through their complete product life cycle,” the 31-year-old stated. “I additionally help launching the product out there, proofing the coaching and market supplies and getting ready seller bulletins and assets to make sure they’ve the best info.”

Cramer acquired a love of automobiles from her father, who labored within the auto trade.

She earned a level in communications after which studied at Georgian School’s Automotive Enterprise Faculty in Barrie, Ont., 110 kilometres north of Toronto. Her first job was an internship at Nissan Canada as a digital advertising specialist. After a short time at an advert company, she returned to Nissan in 2018 as chief advertising supervisor, launching automobiles to the general public after product planners had completed with them.

She joined Volkswagen in her present position in 2021. “I wished to expertise one thing totally different and see the German aspect of issues, and I began with the Jetta portfolio,” she stated.

The 2 upcoming ID7 and ID Buzz automobiles are her first EVs. “Each have been created for the worldwide market, so I’ve to make sure that the crew in Germany understands how we have to package deal the automobile to achieve success in Canada.” That features the colder local weather, and Cramer makes positive gadgets resembling heated seats are included.

Maintaining future merchandise secret can be a job requirement. “Once they lastly come to market, it’s such a sigh of aid to share what we’ve been engaged on for thus a few years. It’s improbable to have individuals see what we’ve been growing.”

JENNIFER COOPER

BUILDING AN EXPERIENCE FROM THE GROUND UP

Porsche Canada has lengthy held customer-focused driving occasions at third-party venues, however now it’s constructing its personal web site east of Toronto in Pickering, Ont. Overseeing it’s Jennifer Cooper, 47, supervisor of Porsche Expertise Centre Toronto.

“It’s opening in the summertime of 2024, and my important focus is overseeing our building venture,” she stated. “I’m the primary level of contact between our design crew, venture

managers, our normal contractor doing the observe and a building supervisor doing the constructing.”

As soon as the power opens to prospects, she might be liable for all features resembling catering, automobile detailing and on-site workers.

Cooper was at all times fascinated by automobiles and took the automotive advertising program at Georgian School in Barrie. Her first job was at Nissan Canada, compiling info for service bulletins. Over 9 years, she finally moved to product planning because the automaker launched the GT-R sportscar in Canada.

Porsche Vehicles Canada was established as its personal entity in 2008, and primarily based on her expertise with the GT-R launch, she was headhunted to affix because the product planning specialist for the Canadian launch of the 997 (911) Gen II.

“Twelve of us have been employed as a part of the unique crew, and I’m the one one left,” she stated. “In 2010, we reorganized the advertising crew, and I began in a brand new position for retail advertising.”

Cooper dealt with advertising for the Canadian Porsche Centres program when she and a colleague from Porsche AG started it in 2010. 4 years later, her colleague returned to Germany and he or she took over his administration position.

“As soon as [Porsche Experience Centre opens], that’s when the enjoyable begins, as a result of [I’ll] be liable for all of the features,” she stated. “That is our facility; we handle the whole lot, relatively than renting a venue and exhibiting up. This might be in our dwelling in Canada.”