Quebec Eases 2035 Ban on Gas-Powered Vehicle Sales

New cars are lined up at a dealership on in Levis, Que., on Oct. 11, 2024. The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot

Quebec is easing its ban on the sale of gas-powered vehicles coming into effect in 2035 to provide “respite” for the automobile industry.

The province’s new target will be 90 percent of all new vehicles sold to be electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2035, instead of 100 percent strictly zero-emission vehicles, a Sept. 26 news release says.

Quebec adopted regulations in December last year banning the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles as of 2035. The province said the rules would aid in reaching its goal of “electrifying” its transportation and would apply to all light-duty vehicles including cars, light trucks, pickup trucks, and most SUVs.

The regulations would have made it illegal to sell a new or used version of any 2035 gas-powered vehicle starting Jan. 1, 2034, and made it illegal to sell or lease new gas-powered vehicles from 2034 or earlier starting Dec. 31, 2035.

However, the province says it has now adjusted its targets to reflect “the new North American context and the government’s desire not to unduly harm the economy or penalize Quebec businesses and workers.”

“The world has changed, and Quebec must adapt to it,” Quebec Environment Minister Bernard Drainville said in a Sept. 26 statement. “My priority is to find the right balance between environmental protection and economic development.”

“Quebec consumers will benefit, having a greater choice of electric and hybrid vehicles,” he added.

The provincial government said in making the decision it had consulted with major car manufacturers and dealership representatives throughout the summer.

The province said it is still committed to moving forward with “electrifying” its transportation, and says the new target is intended to encourage automobile manufacturers to produce “new models of electric and hybrid vehicles that are more affordable, more efficient, and have better autonomy.”

The announcement comes a few weeks after the federal government said it is pausing its own upcoming mandate starting in 2026, which would have required 20 percent of vehicles sold in 2026 to be EVs or hybrid vehicles.