'A necessary evil': EV association doesn't like, but understands, Manitoba excluding Tesla from rebate program

CBC News

· Posted: Mar 21, 2025 2:13 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

The caput of the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association won't spell arsenic acold arsenic supporting the provice's determination to region Teslas and China-made electrical vehicles from the EV rebate program, but helium understands it.

"I deliberation it's astir a indispensable evil. I don't needfully similar it, but it's meant to nonstop a connection down southbound — and I deliberation it volition bash that," said James Hart.

"It sounds similar it is fundamentally conscionable falling successful enactment with what B.C. is doing also, which is cancelling immoderate rebates connected Tesla oregon Tesla products."

Under Manitoba's rebate program, rolled retired past year, any resident who buys an electric or plug-in hybrid EV successful the state with a manufacturer's suggested database terms beneath $70,000 tin use for a refund of up to $4,000.

The rebate rises to $2,500 for a used EV, while those leasing 1 could beryllium eligible for $1,000–$4,000 return. All rebates are taxable to the vehicle being on the database of eligible EVs.

The programme officially began successful July 2024 but was made retroactive to Aug. 1, 2023.

Kicking retired Teslas and Chinese EVs is portion of "Trump-proofing our economy," Finance Minister Adrien Sala said successful Thursday's announcement, part of the provincial budget.

Trump has deed Canada with 25 per cent tariffs connected alloy and aluminum with plans to implement additional levies connected April 2. In anothr development, China has imposed a 100 per cent levy connected Canadian canola lipid and meal, positive a 25 per cent work connected seafood and pork.

Manitoba's determination could spur different EV manufacturers to bring successful much vehicles for buyers who are present "looking astatine the different choices that are retired there," Hart said, highlighting a imaginable upside.

Lots of choices

It would person been worse for Manitoba consumers a fewer years ago when Teslas were 1 of the few available EVs, helium said.

"Right present we person truthful galore different choices that I don't cognize if it's going to interaction america arsenic overmuch — and I get wherefore they're doing it."

However, buyers looking for a sedan akin to the Tesla Model 3 won't find thing comparable, Hart said. And if idiosyncratic truly likes the technology incorporated into a Tesla, "there's not a full batch of different choices retired determination that are truly good."

"I conjecture my 1 idiosyncratic disappointment is the Chinese vehicles being taken off, also," Hart said.

"I don't cognize however acold they're going with that. Technically, Volvo is owned by a Chinese institution so … it volition beryllium absorbing to spot if they're taken disconnected oregon near on, arsenic the ones we're getting aren't needfully made successful China but are owned by a Chinese company."

Many radical buy Volvos for their information record, which has routinely been ranked highly by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration successful the U.S.

"So they privation that for their household car and each that and unfortunately, if they're taken disconnected the database … it mightiness beryllium that quality betwixt getting [an EV] and not getting one," Hart said.