By Wa Lone
Toronto (Reuters)-Toronto, Canada, is no longer providing financial incentives for Tesla vehicles bought like taxis or hitchhiking due to commercial tensions with the US, the city’s mayor, Olivia Chow said on Monday.
The city is promoting the adoption of electric vehicles purchased as rental vehicles, offering drivers and owners a reduction in licensing and renewal fees by the end of 2029 to help reduce emissions.
But from March 1, Tesla vehicles will no longer be eligible to incentives, Chow said at a news conference.
“Rental vehicles, like taxis, will have to find a different type of car,” she told Reuters after the press conference. “There are other electric cars they could buy.”
Exclusion will continue until commercial issues with the US are resolved, she said.
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Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Chow told Reuters that the decision was made in response to Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk, who is one of US President Donald Trump’s top counselors. Trump called for the attachment of Canada and imposed rates on products in the country, irritating the Canadians.
“We certainly said that if you want to buy a Tesla, go ahead, but don’t count on the taxpayer’s money to subsidize him,” said the mayor.
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Chow also stated that the financial impact of the change would not be great.
“It’s more symbolic,” he added.
(Report from wa lone in Toronto)
