British Columbia has introduced legislation aimed at adding flexibility to its zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, a move the New Car Dealers Association of B.C. (NCDA) said better reflects current market conditions.
Announced April 1, the legislation still maintains a long-term target of 75 per cent ZEV adoption by 2035 while allowing regulatory adjustments as market conditions evolve. NCDA President and CEO Blair Qualey said in a statement the move is a step in the right direction.
“We appreciate that government is listening to both industry and consumer concerns. For some time, we have been highlighting the growing gap between policy ambition and market reality. These changes reflect an important recognition that flexibility matters and that policy must evolve alongside consumers, not ahead of them,” said Qualey.
The association has called for a shift away from rigid quota-based requirements toward a framework that better aligns with consumer demand. The new legislation eases some of the stricter elements of the current system but retains overall policy direction. However, concerns remain. Qualey pointed to penalties that continue to apply when OEMs miss targets.
“Penalties of $20,000 per gas vehicle sold on automakers remain in place when not meeting arbitrary sales targets, and that continues to be an affordability and vehicle availability concern,” he said.
ZEV adoption in B.C. fell to 18.3 per cent last year from 22.8 per cent a year earlier, while demand has shifted toward hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The NCDA said alignment with federal policy will also be critical to avoid inconsistencies across Canada.
