Brian Kingston, president and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, said Thursday that electric-vehicle demand in Canada has declined [1].
The shift in consumer behavior suggests a potential cooling of the EV market in Canada, which could impact automotive manufacturing and climate goals.
Kingston spoke with CTV News on May 7, 2026, regarding the current state of the industry. He said that EV demand is "simply not where it was a few years ago" [1]. This downturn comes as the industry grapples with a slower-than-expected transition from internal combustion engines to electric power [1].
According to Kingston, the slowdown is the result of a combination of market conditions [1]. He said the influence of recent U.S. tariffs on auto parts is a contributing factor to the current economic climate for vehicles [1].
Despite the immediate challenges, Kingston said he remains bullish on electrification over the long term [1]. The current volatility reflects a complex intersection of trade policy and consumer hesitation, a gap that the industry must bridge to maintain growth.
While some reports suggest that EV interest is surging in certain U.S. cities, the Canadian perspective provided by the CVMA indicates a different trend for the northern neighbor [1]. The association continues to monitor how trade barriers, and consumer sentiment, will shape the next phase of the automotive transition [1].
“EV demand is ‘simply not where it was a few years ago’”
The divergence between Canadian demand and reported interest in U.S. urban centers suggests that EV adoption is not uniform across North America. When combined with the pressure of U.S. tariffs on auto parts, Canadian manufacturers may face a dual challenge: rising costs of production and a shrinking immediate customer base, potentially delaying the timeline for full fleet electrification.
