Toronto, Ontario – A gathering of Canada’s leading automaker associations has a request for the federal government; help Canadians invest in zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).
On June 24, representatives from the Canadian Manufacturing Association (CEMA), Global Automakers of Canada and the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association shared their perspectives about Canada’s readiness for mass ZEV adoption.
The reps also announced the launch of the EV Readiness Dashboard as part of the Road to 2035 campaign, the year when the Canadian government will fully eliminate the registration of carbon-emitting cars and passenger trucks.
Some of the suggested measures include greater public awareness, investment into the battery supply chain, boosting ZEV incentives and establishing an accessible network of vehicle chargers and hydrogen fuelers across Canada.
In the case of ZEV incentives, some states in the U.S. have incentives beyond $12,000. Meanwhile, the Canadian federal government offers $5,000 at most, with B.C. and Quebec being the only provinces with their own incentives.
According to a press release by CEMA, the auto sector is calling on Canada’s federal and provincial governments to be “more ambitious…on the availability of sufficient consumer incentives to help offset the higher cost of EVs and accessible EV charging infrastructure to make EV driving practical for all Canadians,”
“[Canadians] have got very real concerns about charging infrastructure, particularly if they’re not able to charge their vehicle,” said Brian Kingston, president of CEMA. ”Incentives are the most powerful tool available, especially when inflation is hurting customers’ spending power.”
