Canada has suspended Tesla rebate payments and barred the automaker from future EV incentives due to U.S. tariffs. Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland said the freeze will remain until claims are individually reviewed.
The Canadian government has taken a firm stance against Tesla, freezing approximately C$43 million ($30.11 million) in rebate payments and barring the electric vehicle manufacturer from future incentive programs. The decision comes as part of Canada’s response to newly imposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, which Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland described as "illegitimate and illegal."
Freeland stated that the transport department will revise eligibility requirements for upcoming iZEV programs, ensuring that Tesla vehicles do not qualify as long as the U.S. tariffs remain in place. The government will also investigate each existing rebate claim before processing any payments.
Tesla has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the policy shift. The move follows reports by the Toronto Star that Tesla dealerships in Canada, particularly in Quebec, filed a high volume of rebate claims in the final days of the program in January. One dealership alone reportedly accounted for nearly C$20 million in subsidies by documenting over 4,000 sales in a single weekend.
The rebate freeze also comes amid broader trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced sweeping tariffs, including a 25% tax on most Canadian and Mexican goods, set to take effect in early April. Trump has also hinted at forthcoming automobile tariffs, although it remains unclear if all proposed levies will be enforced by the anticipated April 2 deadline.
Adding to the friction, some Canadian cities, including Toronto, have ceased offering financial incentives for Tesla vehicles used in taxi or ride-sharing services due to escalating trade disputes. Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a known ally of Trump, has been actively involved in White House efforts to streamline federal government operations through the Department of Government Efficiency.
The rebate suspension and Tesla’s exclusion from future incentive programs underscore the growing impact of trade policies on the EV industry, with potential implications for both automakers and consumers in Canada.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for peace talks with Iran, as a dispute over the Strait of Hormuz threatened to complica...
Thousands gathered in Novi Sad, Serbia, to commemorate the deaths of 16 people in the 2024 railway station awning collapse and renew calls for snap el...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 20 June, covering the latest developments you need to know. ...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is preparing a “massive” attack on Ukraine, urging residents to pay close attention...
Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least nine people in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, including a child and an Al Jazeera journalist, Palestinian hea...
Thousands of people took to the streets of Geneva on Sunday, 14 June ahead of this week's G7 summit in neighbouring France, but a largely peaceful demonstration later descended into clashes with police.
After many years, reams of regulatory paperwork and a well-timed presidential visit, Tesla has finally launched its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in China, the world’s largest electric vehicle market and one in which competitors have been rapidly advancing their autonomous driving capabilities.
Elon Musk took the stand on Tuesday (28 April) at a high-stakes trial over the future of OpenAI, casting his lawsuit against the ChatGPT maker as a defence of charitable giving.
Major automakers showcased new electric vehicles at the New York Auto Show this week, under the slogan “electrification is the future." However, weakening demand in the United States and intense competition with China are raising questions for markets across the globe, including the South Caucasus.
A train driver has been killed and nine people remain in a critical condition in hospital, after two trains collided near Beford in the east of England on Friday. The passenger trains heading to London collided at around 17:15 local time (1615 GMT).
Morocco captain and PSG defender Achraf Hakimi will face trial in France after an appeals court ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed.
Paraguay kept their World Cup hopes alive with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Türkiye, but the celebrations were tempered by a costly red card for veteran forward Miguel Almirón.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck southwest of Greece’s island of Crete on Saturday, with no immediate reports of damage.
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, a senior U.S. official has said. Hezbollah has released a statement saying Israel must leave southern Lebanon. Israel has said it agrees to the ceasefire, but has said its armed forces won't leave Lebanon and will resume hostilities if attacked.
Media leaders from across Europe gathered in Vienna this week for the annual European Publishing Congress.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has said artificial intelligence will ultimately lead to labour shortages rather than widespread unemployment, pushing back against growing fears that AI will replace human workers.
French department store BHV and online fast-fashion retailer Shein have ended their partnership, seven months after the launch of a permanent Shein shop in Paris triggered controversy and widespread criticism.
China’s retail sales fell for the first time in more than three years in May, while urban investment contracted more than expected, signaling further weakness in the world’s second-largest economy.
Macao opened the 17th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum on Thursday, with officials and industry leaders highlighting the role of green and digital technologies in strengthening global infrastructure connectivity.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment