Langley, BC – The New Car Dealers Association of BC (NCDA) says the newly released CleanBC Review confirms what dealers and consumers have been saying for years: electric vehicle adoption depends on affordability, and without rebates – it’s pushing BC off course.
When government paused the CleanBC Go Electric Vehicle Rebate Program earlier this year, the NCDA warned it would significantly depress consumer demand,” said BCDA President Blair Qualey. “That is precisely what has happened.”
After years of leadership in EV uptake, BC entered 2025 with momentum. But once rebates were removed, EV sales fell sharply. By June, ZEV market share had dropped to 15.4%, down from nearly 25% the year prior.
The slide in EV adoption underscores that rebates have been central to BC’s success, sending a strong, clear message that incentives – not mandates – drive consumer adoption. Without rebates, many families simply cannot bridge the affordability gap – especially in a year marked by rising costs and broader economic uncertainty.
“British Columbians want to make cleaner choices, but they must also be able to afford them,” said Blair Qualey, President and CEO of the NCDA. “The CleanBC Review validates what we have said throughout 2024 and 2025: Eliminating rebates while keeping mandates in place is unworkable for consumers and unfair to industry.”
The Review confirms a shifting national landscape. Ottawa has paused its own ZEV mandate, and Quebec has adjusted its targets. BC has also now created a new compliance pathway and lowered targets – an acknowledgment that the current mandate regime is misaligned with consumer reality.
“You cannot remove the rebate (the carrot) while keeping high expectations and penalties (the stick). Real-world conditions matter, and consumers have been signaling loud and clear that the pace and cost of the transition must be sustainable,” said Qualey.
While the Review acknowledges that BC’s ZEV targets must be scaled back, the NCDA maintains that the ZEV mandate system should be eliminated entirely and replaced with a market-based, consumer-focused approach supported by predictable incentives and charging investments.
“We are committed to helping British Columbia lead in clean transportation,” Qualey added. “But ambition must be paired with affordability. The CleanBC Review offers a more balanced starting point – one that only works if rebates are restored and mandates are removed so consumers can make the choices that fit their needs.”
