The latest claims from GM Canada reveal that it has outsold Tesla and all other automakers in the electric vehicle (EV) space north of the border. The claim was challenged by Canadian automotive outlet Driving.ca, at which point a GM Canada spokesperson confirmed the data from IHS, which, according to the automaker, is the industry standard for tracking vehicle registrations in Canada. So, what exactly is going on here? Why is GM outselling Tesla in a country where, well, Tesla was dominating the streets not that long ago? Here’s the full rundown on GM’s EV dominance, and why it could soon happen in the U.S. as well.
An Aggressive EV Offense Across Several Brands
For starters, it’s worth mentioning that GM isn’t selling EVs under a single brand, but three: Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC. Right off the bat, it has an obvious advantage over Tesla, which is its own brand, but currently also only sells five models.
On the GM side, we’re talking about its recent onslaught of EVs, ranging from different shapes, sizes and segments. Chevrolet Equinox EV, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Cadillac Optiq, Cadillac Lyriq, Cadillac Vistiq, Cadillac Escalade IQ, Cadillac Celestiq, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and GMC Hummer EV. Such a healthy roster of models automatically increases GM’s odds of outselling anyone else in the EV space.
- GM’s EV sales were driven by several new models.
- Sales grew 252-percent in Canada year-over-year.
- In the U.S., GM’s EV sales were up 94-percent in Q1 2025.
The numbers are actually quite impressive, as GM Canada claims it has seen a 252-percent year-over-year increase in Canadian EV sales, making it the number one seller of EVs in the country in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025. That all being said, that 252-percent increase must not be taken at face value, since GM went from having essentially one EV to sell (the Bolt EV) to a wide range of models in the span of just over a year. That’s enough to glorify your numbers.
Still, let’s give GM credit where credit is due. It’s selling a lot of EVs, and not just in Canada. GM’s Q1 EV sales in the U.S. were up 94-percent, with the Equinox EV driving the bulk of these sales at 10,329 units sold.
Why Tesla Sales Are Dropping In Canada
By comparison, Tesla sales in general have dunked in the last few months, mostly related to Elon Musk’s shenanigans in the White House, and other radical right-wing actions. But, in Canada, the anti-Musk and, by extension, the anti-Tesla sentiment is even stronger. The richest man on Earth said on X that Canada “is not a real country”. It didn’t help that he was closely tied with President Donald Trump, who has been ranting about how Canada should cease to exist as a nation with his silly 51st state rhetoric.
But, it goes further than that. Tesla is in dire need of new, fresh models. Its prices have also gone up in Canada, and the automaker is no longer benefiting from Canada’s generous EV incentive program. That program was particularly appealing in the province of Quebec, where folks could once land on a seriously good deal when buying a Model 3. That’s no longer the case.
Kudos to GM for carrying the EV torch in Canada. Now it must face larger challenges: slowing demand for EVs in general, both in the U.S. and Canada, as well as the elephant in the room called a trade war. It’ll be interesting to see how GM, but also all other automakers, will navigate through all of this in the coming months.
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