Tesla Model 3, Model Y Top Canadian Plug-In Electric Vehicle Sales in 2020

According to 2020 plug-in sales data for Canada from IHS Markit, Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y have dominated.

Data from iHS Markit (via @EVRevShow) shows the Model 3 taking the top spot for electric vehicle sales in Canada in 2020, followed by the Model Y in second place. Toyota’s Prius Prime PHEV, Hyundai Kona and Chevy Bolt EV followed respectively.

https://twitter.com/EVRevShow/status/1355924596692803587

Plug-in electric vehicle sales were up 2.7% year-over-year, with September showing the best month of battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). BEVs are represented by 72% and PHEVs at 28%, with PEVs taking 3.8% of the industry, up 3% compared to 2019.

British Columbia leads PEV sales versus the industry at 9.3%, followed by Quebec at 7.3% and Ontario at 1.9%. These sales were surely helped by provincial rebates in both of these provinces, coupled with Canada’s national EV rebate program, which the Tesla Model 3 is eligible. The new Model Y RWD is not eligible for the national program and it’s unclear if Tesla will change the entry price for its SUV to qualify.

COVID-19 resulted in lower new vehicle registrations, but BEVs and PEVs still took share of new vehicle sales, reports iHS Markit with BEVs seeing an increase of 9% (3,303 units).

Overall, from new vehicle registrations in 2020, electric vehicles only took 2.5% of the market, hybrid electric vehicles at 3.3% and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles at 1.0%. There is still a lot more room to grow for the EV market as a whole in Canada.