Bob Mackin
On the eve of its opening, the Vancouver Auto Show made international news by ejecting Tesla for fear that its display would be targeted by anti-Elon Musk/anti-Donald Trump protesters.
The New Car Dealers Association continued to make headlines on opening day, March 19, when auto industry lobbyists told reporters that the B.C. NDP government needs to delay its electric vehicle mandate. They did so at an event whose marquee sponsors include BC Hydro and the Ministry of Environment’s CleanBC program.
The NDP amended the 2019 Zero-Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) Act in 2023 to require ZEVs to make up 26% of sales of cars, light trucks and minivans by 2026, 90% by 2030 and 100% by 2035.
“There are clear headwinds to ongoing zero emission vehicle adoption, which include the restriction or elimination of purchase incentives, which we’ve seen here in B.C. and federally,” said Lucas Malinowski, director of federal affairs for the Global Automakers of Canada. “We have economic uncertainty with trade tariffs and not enough infrastructure is being built out to give consumers confidence that they can take and reliably charge their EVs anywhere.”
Brian Kingston, CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, said if U.S. tariffs do not go ahead, B.C. could, at best, reach 57% EV sales by 2030.
“This is well short of the mandated target of 90%,” Kingston said. “If EV sales do not increase at the rates that the government has mandated, the only way for automakers to comply is through restrictions of the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles in this province, or paying penalties of up to $20,000 per vehicle sold. The result of this, for British Columbians, is higher vehicle prices and limited vehicle choice.”
Kingston said new vehicle sales would flatline and cause job losses.
The Vancouver Auto Show runs through March 23 at Vancouver Convention Centre West.
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