Canadian EV sales are growing, but experts aren’t sure it’s enough

Statistics Canada recently released the latest EV sales data for 2026, and conflicting reports have emerged about the state of Canada’s EV industry.

To add some context, Statistics Canada’s report shows that 22,716 electric vehicles were sold in Canada in August, a record high for 2026 following a bit of a slump in July where only 18,862 EVs were sold.

Global News noted that EV purchases increased by 55 per cent in August 2026 compared to the same month from last year, when there were only 14,643 EVs sold. JD Power’s analysis, based on data from automotive dealers, shows EV sales rose by two percentage points in Q3 2026, now making up seven per cent of the market share, and jumping to 10 percent when including PHEVs and Tesla.

However, Robert Karwel, director of OEM solutions with JD Power, told Global News that even with this boost in Q3, and a now less aggressive target of 75 per cent of all sold vehicles to be electric by 2035, Canada is still far from achieving it.

However, Clean Energy Canada sees something different.

“The latest EV sales numbers point to an EV market that’s gaining momentum,” said Graham Anderson, clean transportation manager at Clean Energy Canada, in an email to MobileSyrup.

“Provincially, there are some particular bright spots. More than a quarter of cars sold in B.C. were electric, while Ontario hit a 10 per cent market share — its highest since 2024.”

Clean Energy Canada also noted that “2026 is looking to be a very different year” for EV sales, citing the federal rebate and the fact that 11 different EV models are priced under $40,000 as of this month, compared to just one (the Fiat 500e) in September 2025.

Those 11 are the Chevrolet Bolt, Fiat 500E, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Kona, Kia EV3, Kia EV4, Kia EV5, Nissan Leaf, Subaru Uncharted, Toyota CH-R, and the Tesla Model 3, although it is currently paused as of October 15.

Another interesting point is the upcoming influx of Chinese EVs. A recent Clean Energy Canada poll found that 42 per cent of likely EV buyers say they might “wait for more Chinese EVs to become available,” as brands like Geely announce their entry.

I should note that most of the Chinese EV quota is being swallowed up by Shanghai-built Tesla Model 3s, but it is only a matter of time before other brands (as mentioned earlier) start to trickle in, so while it is slower than expected, there is at least some evidence that Canada’s EV market has a lot of promise.