A new national survey suggests the federal zero-emissions vehicle mandate is struggling to win over Canadians, raising questions about how quickly consumers are prepared to shift to electric vehicles as sales targets tighten.
The Leger poll, commissioned by the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association (CVMA), Global Automakers of Canada (GAC) and the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), found that only 31 per cent of respondents support the policy, while nearly half (46 per cent) would like to see it scaled back or scrapped.
Industry leaders say the findings reflect a gap between government ambitions and consumer readiness. “Canadians want support to transition to electric vehicles, not unrealistic government mandates that can’t be met,” said Brian Kingston, CVMA president and CEO, in a statement.
The federal mandate requires ZEVs to make up 20 per cent of new light-duty vehicle sales in 2026, 60 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035. Plug-in hybrids, battery-electric vehicles and fuel-cell models all qualify.
The results of the poll arrive at a moment of cooling momentum for EV sales. ZEVs represented 10.2 per cent of new-vehicle sales in September, down 43.3 per cent from a year earlier.
The poll also suggests that vehicle availability at dealerships, once a prominent concern, is no longer viewed as a major barrier, with only 11 per cent citing it. Instead, Canadians continue to flag affordability, driving range and charging access as the factors limiting adoption.
The persistence of these concerns since 2021 underscores how little progress has been made on core infrastructure and cost challenges. Should the mandate hold, dealers will be navigating a market where EV expectations rise faster than consumer confidence.
