Auto Industry Pushes Back on B.C.'s Lowered EV Sales Target, Warns of Market Distortion

The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (CVMA) is challenging British Columbia's revised zero-emission vehicle sales target, arguing the province's go-it-alone approach creates regulatory fragmentation that hurts consumers and dealers alike. On October 10, the association warned that B.C.'s target — now 75% ZEV sales by 2035, down from 100% — remains misaligned with the federal framework Ottawa is still finalizing.

What B.C. changed

In April 2026, the B.C. NDP government lowered its 2035 zero-emission vehicle mandate from 100% to 75% of new light-duty sales, keeping interim targets of 26% in 2026 and 90% by 2030. The province also expanded ZEV credit eligibility to include plug-in hybrids with shorter electric range and introduced a ZEV Affordability Program rewarding automakers for lowering prices or offering financing incentives.

Energy Minister Adrian Dix said the revision makes the mandate "more realistic" while awaiting Ottawa's emissions standards, expected by October 29. "There should be one harmonized sales target for the country and B.C.'s should match that," Dix told reporters.

Industry says fragmentation persists

Brian Kingston, CVMA president, said the lowered target doesn't solve the core problem: a patchwork of federal and provincial rules. "We now have three different regulatory regimes — federal, B.C., and Quebec — each with different targets, timelines, and compliance mechanisms. That creates unnecessary complexity and cost," Kingston said in a statement.

The association represents Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis in Canada. Its members argue that disjointed mandates force manufacturers to allocate specific vehicle trims to specific provinces, limiting consumer choice and inflating compliance costs that ultimately get passed to buyers.

Quebec separately announced in June 2026 it would lower its 2035 ZEV target from 100% to 85%, citing similar market-readiness concerns. Both provinces moved after Prime Minister Mark Carney paused the federal 2026 EV sales requirement in February and launched a review of the national Zero-Emission Vehicle Availability Standard.

What the federal review could change

Ottawa's consultation on replacement emissions standards closes October 29. The federal government has signaled it will shift from a prescriptive sales quota to a fleet-average emissions standard — similar to the U.S. CAFE model — which would give automakers more flexibility in how they comply.

Clean Energy Canada's Joanna Kyriazis argues the provincial mandates accelerated charger deployment and model availability in B.C. and Quebec, which lead the country in EV adoption at 23% and 21% of new sales respectively. "The mandates worked to pull supply into these markets. Weakening them now risks stalling that momentum," she said.

Dealers caught in the middle

Blair Qualey, president of the New Car Dealers Association of BC, called B.C.'s changes "helpful interim steps" but urged a comprehensive review next spring. "Dealers need certainty to plan inventory, train staff, and invest in charging infrastructure. A harmonized national standard is the only way to deliver that," Qualey said.

For B.C. buyers, the immediate effect is more plug-in hybrid options counting toward the mandate and potential price pressure from the affordability credits. But the longer-term question — whether Canada ends up with one national standard or three — remains unresolved until Ottawa finalizes its framework later this month.

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