Canada Halts Electric Vehicle Rebate Program After Funds Depleted
The federal iZEV program, which offered up to $5,000 in incentives, has paused after supporting over 546,000 zero-emission vehicle purchases since 2019.
- Transport Canada announced that the Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) Program has been paused as all allocated funds have been used.
- The program provided rebates of up to $5,000 for electric vehicle purchases or leases, contributing to a rise in zero-emission vehicle market share from 3.1% in 2019 to 11.7% in 2023.
- Over 546,000 zero-emission vehicles were sold or leased with the program’s support, according to Transport Minister Anita Anand.
- The pause comes as Canada aims for 20% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2026 and 100% by 2035, raising concerns about meeting these ambitious targets without continued incentives.
- A separate incentive program for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles remains active until March 31, 2026, subject to available funding.