Zero-Emission Vehicle Sales in Canada Fell 28 Percent in April
The end of the federal government’s Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program on January 13 continues to hurt sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as new data from Statistics Canada shows.
In April 2025, 14,725 new ZEVs were sold across the country, representing a decline of 28.5 percent from the same period in 2024. These ZEVs comprised 7.5 percent of total new motor vehicles sales, which were up 11.3 percent year over year (195,659 units).
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This comes after a ZEV sales decline of 44.9 percent in March and 41.3 percent in February versus 2024.
The smaller drop in April is mainly attributable to the return of Quebec’s own incentives, which were suspended from February 1 to March 31 due to funds running out. That said, the province’s rebates were slashed at the beginning of the year, from $7,000 down to $4,000 for full EVs. Plug-in hybrids are now eligible to only $2,000 or $1,000 depending on battery capacity.
British Columbia, another leading Canadian province for ZEV adoption, put an end to its Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program after May 15, as previously reported.
As for the federal incentives, we’ll have to wait and see if and when they return under new Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Weeks ago at a press briefing in Toronto, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Mélanie Joly assured the government wants to bring them back to help Canadians purchase ZEVs at more affordable prices.
