Quebec scales back EV sales target to 80% by 2035
The province is giving automakers more breathing room, citing supply chain disruptions and trade challenges affecting the industry.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Quebec is relaxing its electric vehicle sales goals. The province now aims for 80 per cent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035, down from the 100 per cent ban on gas car sales it originally planned.
The CAQ government has been backing away from aggressive EV targets for months. Last fall, the province scrapped its full gasoline-vehicle ban. Now, new interim targets reflect what Environment Minister Pascale Déry calls a "balanced approach" that accounts for "realities on the ground."
The government cited supply chain disruptions, difficulty accessing strategic materials, and international trade issues as reasons for the pullback. For 2026, the target drops to 26 per cent of sales (from 32.5 per cent). By 2030, Quebec aims for 51 per cent instead of 85 per cent.
Déry noted that high gas prices already hit Quebec families and workers hard—the province wanted to give the automotive industry space to adapt without imposing unrealistic timelines. The new standard was unveiled Thursday.