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Montreal, May 9, 2025 — Équiterre is calling on the governments of Quebec and Canada to stay the course on their Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) sales mandate and not give in to the pressures of the auto industry.
In recent months, various stakeholders speaking on behalf of the automotive sector have been urging governments to scale back their commitments to transportation electrification — or at least to lower their ambitions — citing, among other things, economic threats from the United States.
According to Équiterre, there is no reason to give in to unjustified demands from an industry that consistently asks for regulatory leniency whenever things get a little difficult. The current situation with the U.S. should instead be seen as a golden opportunity to chart our own course and invest in the mobility of the future.
“For years, we've clung to U.S. standards when it comes to automobiles, and it hasn’t served us well. Whether it’s environmental standards or road safety, we’ve been dependent on what happens south of the border for too long. Why not take this moment as a chance to make our own path — one that’s more resilient and ambitious?” says Blandine Sebileau, mobility analyst at Équiterre.
“We’ve also spent billions of public dollars on electric vehicle purchase subsidies in recent years. It’s time we ensure a return on that investment. In Quebec, our climate plan relies heavily on reducing transportation-related GHGs. Are we really going to rewrite the plan just to protect the auto industry profits?” the expert asks.
Consumers Would Pay the Price
Équiterre believes now is the worst possible time to scale back ZEV targets — especially since it’s drivers who would ultimately pay the price of any rollback.
“Vehicle prices have more than doubled in the last five years. Let’s not confuse the industry’s interests with those of consumers. What people want are options: affordable and low-emission ones,” explains Sebileau.
“Backing down now would be like quitting a race meters from the finish line. The ZEV mandate is precisely designed to bring down electric vehicle prices. And when we look around the world, it’s clear that jurisdictions with such policies sell more EVs than those without. So why change something that works?” she concludes.
According to Équiterre, the only real winners of a potential rollback would be manufacturers lagging in electrification — the same ones anticipating fines for their lack of strategic planning. Blaming effective public policies shows a clear lack of vision, the organization says.
Équiterre's offices are located on Indigenous lands that have not been ceded by treaty, which we now call Montreal and Quebec City. We recognize that Indigenous peoples have protected their territories since immemorial times and have used their traditional knowledge to guard the lands and waters. We are grateful to live on these lands and are committed to continuing our efforts to protect them. Read more »
