Automaker General Motors Declares Leadership in Electric Vehicle Sales within Canadian Market over Tesla
In a significant shift in the Canadian automotive landscape, General Motors (GM) has emerged as the leading electric vehicle (EV) seller, outperforming Tesla in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025.
According to data from Canadian vehicle registration, GM captured 15.8% of Canada's 2025 EV market with a 252% year-over-year sales increase. This impressive growth was driven by a diversified portfolio of 13 EV models across its brands.
The company's success can be attributed to several key factors:
- Broad model lineup: GM's robust offering of 13 different EV models includes the highly successful Chevrolet Equinox EV, which recorded over 8,500 units sold in the U.S. in July 2025, making it the best-selling non-Tesla EV.
- Strategic diversification: GM's dual-track production strategy, balancing EV and internal combustion engine vehicles, has helped the company avoid tariffs while investing $4 billion in manufacturing to enhance supply chain resilience and research and development.
- Government policy alignment: Investments in Ontario and Quebec facilities secured supply for 350,000 EVs per year, supported by federal tax credits that applied to models like the Equinox EV until September 2025.
- Dealer Charging Program and incentives: GM's initiatives, including dealer charging infrastructure, helped counter Tesla’s drop in sales as Tesla's older incentives expired.
During the same period, Tesla's market share and sales dropped sharply in Canada, with GM's share rising to 23.2% in Q2 2025, up from 8.1% in Q2 2024. However, total Canadian EV sales decreased by 23% year-over-year in Q1 2025, reflecting a broader market contraction potentially linked to incentive phase-outs and economic pressures.
GM is planning to further expand its EV lineup with the upcoming Cadillac Escalade IQL, Lyriq-V, Vistiq, and a redesigned Chevrolet Bolt EV set to debut later this year. No specific sales figures for these new models were provided.
This strategic approach of diverse EV offerings, aligned incentives, and manufacturing investments has enabled GM to surpass Tesla in Canadian EV sales in late 2024 and early 2025.
[1] GM Authority. (2025). General Motors Q1 2025 Sales Results: GM Outsells Every Other Automaker, Including Tesla. [online] Available at: https://www.gmauthority.com/blog/2025/04/gm-q1-2025-sales-results-gm-outsells-every-other-automaker-including-tesla/
[2] GM Authority. (2025). GM Canada Sales Results: GM Canada Outperforms Tesla in Q1 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.gmauthority.com/blog/2025/05/gm-canada-sales-results-gm-canada-outperforms-tesla-in-q1-2025/
[3] GM Authority. (2025). Chevrolet Equinox EV Hits Record Sales in U.S. [online] Available at: https://www.gmauthority.com/blog/2025/07/chevrolet-equinox-ev-hits-record-sales-in-us/
[4] CBC News. (2025). Federal, Quebec EV rebate programs suspended during Q1 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/federal-quebec-ev-rebate-programs-suspended-during-q1-2025-1.6460055
[5] Statistics Canada. (2025). Canadian EV Sales Drop by 23% Year-Over-Year in Q1 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/250526/dq250526a-eng.htm
- The success of General Motors (GM) in the electric vehicle (EV) market transcended into the finance sector, as the company recorded an impressive 252% year-over-year sales increase in Canada during Q1 2025.
- The booming electric-vehicle industry in Canada has seen a significant shift, with General Motors capturing 15.8% of Canada's 2025 EV market in Q1 2025.
- The transportation sector has undergone a revolution, as traditional automotive manufacturers like General Motors are investing in technology to develop advanced electric vehicles such as the upcoming Cadillac Escalade IQL, Lyriq-V, Vistiq, and a redesigned Chevrolet Bolt EV.
- The lifestyle preferences of Canadians are evolving, with a growing emphasis on sustainable transportation options, as shown by the rising popularity of electric vehicles and General Motors' leading position in Canada's EV market in late 2024 and early 2025.
