The ambitious goal set by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to eliminate gas-powered cars in favor of electric vehicles (EVs) by 2035 is facing skepticism from auto executives who believe a lack of consumer demand will make this target unattainable. Trudeau’s Liberal Party has aimed for all new car sales to be EVs by 2035, effectively eliminating gas-powered vehicles from the new car market. However, auto industry experts argue that this goal is unlikely to be met, much like similar goals in the United States.
This week, Toyota Motora and Honda Motor executives expressed their concerns over the Canadian government’s plan to shift entirely to EVs within a decade, as consumers remain predominantly interested in gas-powered vehicles that can reliably drive long distances and function well in freezing temperatures. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada President Frank Voss told Bloomberg: “We need to make sure that we’re revisiting targets to align targets with reality.” He emphasized that the government can only do so much to encourage consumers to purchase vehicles they prefer, stating that ultimately, “consumers will choose what they need.
Similarly, Honda Canada CEO Jean Marc Leclerc told Bloomberg that “there’s a lot of things that need to fall into place to give people the confidence to make the transition” to EVs. In Canada, like in the U.S., EV sales remain a small fraction of new car purchases, indicating slowing consumer demand that both governments had initially overestimated. Last year, for instance, only 11 percent of new cars sold were EVs, while more than 1.3 million gas-powered vehicles were purchased.
In the United States, President Joe Biden’s administration is also reconsidering its EV mandates that would require nearly 7 in 10 new cars sold to be EVs rather than gas-powered vehicles by 2032. The proposed regulations would essentially compel American consumers to buy electric vehicles. However, polls have shown that Biden’s EV mandates are highly unpopular with the public.
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. He can be reached at [email protected], and you can follow him on Twitter here.