When newly minted Ontario Premier, Doug Ford, landed in office, he essentially deleted the province’s Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Incentive Program (EHVIP). Ontario did however promise to honour the up to $14,000 rebate on qualifying vehicles as long as they were delivered, registered and plated before September 10th. The car also had to be purchased from a dealer.
Tesla has taken serious offense to this move. Why? Because the province also stipulated that the incentive would end without delay for those who ordered their vehicle from the manufacturer. Some Tesla customers put a down-payment on their Model 3 over two years ago and have yet to receive their precious and affordable electric car. When they put money down, they were banking on the rebate. It’s gone now.
Tesla Canada filed a lawsuit with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice that states that the government “deliberately and arbitrarily” and without warning excluded Tesla customers. The lawsuit also adds: “The Minister of Transportation’s decision suddenly left hundreds of Tesla Canada’s Ontario customers in the unfair position of no longer being eligible for the rebate they had expected to receive when they ordered their vehicles.”
It goes on to say: “While purchasers of other brands and from other dealers will still receive the rebate during the transition period.” We wonder about this as VW eGolf buyers are waiting roughly a year before taking delivery of their car too… We’ve inquired to try and find out more from VW Canada.
We’re curious about the outcome of this story. We’ll keep you posted.
