Statistics Canada recently released the latest EV sales data for 2026, and conflicting reports have emerged about the state of Canada’s EV industry.
To add some context, the Statistics Canada report shows that 22,716 electric vehicles were sold in Canada in August, a record high for 2026 after a slight decline in July when only 18,862 EVs were sold.
Global news noted that EV purchases in August 2026 increased by 55 percent compared to the same month last year, when there were only 14,643 EVs sold. JD Power’s analysis, based on data from car dealers, shows that EV sales increased by two percentage points in Q3 2026, now accounting for seven percent of the market share, and jump to 10 percent when PHEVs and Tesla are included.
However, said Robert Karwel, director of OEM solutions with JD Power Global news that even with this boost in Q3, and a now less aggressive goal of 75 percent of all vehicles sold to be electric by 2035, Canada is still far from achieving it.
However, Clean Energy Canada sees something different.
“The latest EV sales numbers point to an EV market that is gaining momentum,” Graham Anderson, clean transportation manager at Clean Energy Canada, said in an email. Mobile syrup.
“Provincially, there are some particularly bright spots. More than a quarter of cars sold in BC were electric, while Ontario hit a 10 percent market share – its highest since 2024.”
Clean Energy Canada also noted that “2026 is looking to be a very different year” for EV sales, citing the federal rebate and the fact that 11 different EV models are priced under $40,000 as of this month, compared to just one (the Fiat 500e) in September 2025.
The 11 are the Chevrolet Bolt, Fiat 500E, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Kona, Kia EV3, Kia EV4, Kia EV5, Nissan Leaf, Subaru Uncharted, Toyota CH-R, and the Tesla Model 3, although it is currently discontinued as of October 15.
Another interesting point is the future flow of Chinese EVs. A recent Clean Energy Canada survey found that 42 percent of likely EV buyers say they are “waiting for more Chinese EVs to become available,” as brands like Geely announce their entry.
I should note that most of the Chinese EV quota is swallowed up by Shanghai-built Tesla Model 3s, but it’s only a matter of time before other brands (as mentioned earlier) start to enter, so it’s slower than expected, at least it’s a proof that Canada’s EV market has a lot of promise.