General Motors Tops Canadian EV Market as Tesla Sales Plummet

General Motors (GM) has become the top seller of electric vehicles (EVs) in Canada, with a 252% surge in sales in Q1 2025. Tesla Inc. (TSLA) sales plummeted 87% in Quebec, Canada. GM's EV sales were led by the Chevrolet Blazer EV, Cadillac Lyriq, and GMC Hummer EV pickup. The surge in GM's sales comes despite Trump's tariffs and Tesla's decline, which may be attributed to the Canadian government ending key EV incentives.

In a significant shift in the Canadian electric vehicle (EV) market, General Motors (GM) has emerged as the top seller, with a 252% surge in sales during the first quarter of 2025. This remarkable growth comes despite the challenges posed by Trump's tariffs and the decline in Tesla Inc. (TSLA) sales, particularly in Quebec. GM's success can be attributed to its strong EV lineup, which includes the Chevrolet Blazer EV, Cadillac Lyriq, and GMC Hummer EV pickup, while Tesla's struggles may be linked to the Canadian government's decision to end key EV incentives.

GM's Q1 2025 EV sales totaled 5,750 units, a significant increase from the fourth quarter of 2024, when the company sold 15,282 EVs [1]. This performance was driven by the Chevrolet Equinox EV, which remained the top-selling GM EV in the first quarter, along with the Chevrolet Blazer EV and the newly available Cadillac Optiq [1]. The surge in GM's sales is particularly notable given the Canadian government's halting of its iZEV rebate program in February and the Québec government's pause of its own incentive program between February and April 1st [1].

In contrast, Tesla's sales in Quebec plummeted 87% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year [2]. The decline is attributed to a combination of factors, including the pause in EV incentive programs, the 25% tariff on U.S.-made EVs imposed by the federal government in response to Trump's trade war, and Tesla's brand damage due to CEO Elon Musk's backing of Donald Trump and his controversial statements [2][3]. The drop in Tesla's sales is further highlighted by the fact that only 524 Tesla vehicles were registered in Quebec during Q1 2025, a 90% decrease from the previous quarter [2][3].

Looking ahead, the federal government is currently evaluating whether to restart its iZEV program, while British Columbia ended its CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program on May 15th, 2025. In Québec, EV buyers benefit from a rebate of up to $4,000 until December 31st, 2025, and up to $2,000 from January 1st to December 31st, 2026, before its provincial incentive program is phased out [1].

GM's EV lineup is set to expand in 2025 with the arrival of the Cadillac Escalade IQL, the Cadillac Lyriq-V, and the Cadillac Vistiq, while the upcoming 2026 Chevrolet Bolt EV is expected to debut before the end of 2025 [1]. This growth in GM's EV offerings, coupled with the potential restart of federal and provincial incentives, positions GM well to maintain its lead in the Canadian EV market.

References:
[1] https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/05/gm-canada-claims-it-ranks-1-in-ev-sales/
[2] https://electrek.co/2025/05/28/teslas-sales-fall-quebec-market-gets-wiped-out/
[3] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/tesla-registrations-quebec-1.7547483