Tesla saw a slowdown in the Canadian province of Quebec during the first three months of 2025, but experts say the drop may be temporary — and there’s optimism the EV giant could bounce back.
According to Quebec’s auto insurance board (SAAQ), only 524 new Teslas were registered in the province between January and March. That’s down 90% from the previous quarter, when over 5,000 Teslas hit the road. But the reason may not be what you think.
Daniel Breton, president of Electric Mobility Canada, told CBC News the dip likely has more to do with rebate delays and new tariffs than public opinion. For example, Quebec paused its provincial EV rebates from February to April, and the federal iZEV rebate program ended on March 31. Those incentives used to save buyers up to $12,000 — a big factor in Tesla’s popularity.
“Some dealers told me people were just waiting until April,” said Breton.
Meanwhile, new tariffs on U.S.-made EVs like Tesla, Lucid, and Rivian — introduced in response to American trade restrictions — have also made things more expensive for Canadian buyers.
But the broader picture is more balanced: Tesla’s registrations in Quebec rose 30% year-over-year from 2023 to 2024, showing continued long-term demand. And now that rebates are back, many expect sales to recover in the next quarter.
Despite headlines and controversy around Tesla CEO Elon Musk, loyal customers like Anne Picard in Dorval aren’t swayed. She’s owned two Teslas over eight years and says she wouldn’t consider anything else.
“I don’t have enough trust in other companies to give the same level of reliability,” said Picard.
Even critics of Musk admit the brand is hard to ignore. Philippe Bergeron Bélanger, who owns an electric Audi, said Tesla still makes his top-three list — if not for how polarizing the car has become socially.
For now, the market remains in flux. But many EV advocates say Tesla still has a strong future in Canada, especially as affordability, range, and charging infrastructure continue to improve.
