General Motors has recently made a significant claim in the Canadian electric vehicle market by surpassing Tesla as the best-selling EV maker in the country. This milestone was revealed through an Instagram post by GM Canada, indicating a shift in the EV sales charts that have been dominated by Tesla for years.
According to a GM spokesperson, the claim is supported by Canadian vehicle registration data from the third quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, showing GM as the top EV seller during that period. In the last quarter of 2024, GM sold approximately 15,000 electric vehicles in Canada, followed by around 6,000 EVs in the first quarter of 2025. On the other hand, Tesla does not disclose monthly sales figures for individual countries.
Interestingly, data from Quebec’s vehicle registration service revealed a stark decline in Tesla registrations, dropping from 5,097 cars in Q4 2024 to just 524 in Q1 2025, representing a 90% decrease. This decline can be attributed to the cessation of government incentive programs for electric vehicles in Canada earlier this year.
GM’s success in overtaking Tesla in Canada can be attributed to its diverse brand portfolio, with three brands offering EVs compared to Tesla’s single entity with only four models, two of which are high-volume vehicles. Despite Tesla’s previous popularity among Canadian EV buyers, recent sentiments towards the company, particularly due to controversial statements made by CEO Elon Musk, have contributed to a shift in consumer preferences.
The strained relations between the U.S. and Canada, coupled with Musk’s comments about Canada, have led to a decline in enthusiasm for Tesla among Canadian consumers. As a result, GM has capitalized on this situation to emerge as the leading EV maker in the country. This development marks a significant milestone for GM and highlights the evolving dynamics of the Canadian EV market.