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Welcome to The EV North - a weekly newsletter that brings together some of the biggest EV news stories and delivers them to your inbox. There is a focus on Canada & North America but you’ll also find EV news from around the world!

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In this issue:

• GM Leads Canadian EV Sales in First Half of 2025.

• Lion Electric Voids Warranties on School Buses Outside Quebec.

• United Chargers Launches Grizzl-E Club Offering Free Home EV Chargers and Cash-Back Rewards.

• Tesla Faces Legal and Leadership Challenges Amid Robotaxi Push.

• Chevrolet Confirms 2027 Bolt Return with Updated Design and Tesla-Compatible Charging.

• Ford Invests $5 Billion USD in New EV Platform, Production System, and Midsize Electric Pickup.

• + more!

Canada

GM Leads Canadian EV Sales in First Half of 2025.

General Motors has emerged as the top selling electric vehicle automaker in Canada for the first half of 2025, supported by a diverse lineup from Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC. GM has held the number one position in Canadian EV sales for three consecutive quarters, with its market share climbing to 23.2 percent in Q2 2025, up from 8.1 percent a year earlier. This growth moved the automaker from sixth to first place in just 12 months.

Electric vehicles now represent 8.7 percent of GM Canada’s total sales, and more than 60 percent of GM EV buyers are first time customers to the company’s brands.

In Q2 2025, the Chevrolet Equinox EV became the second best selling compact all electric SUV in Canada, appealing to buyers seeking affordable, family oriented EVs. Cadillac led the luxury EV segment with a 30.5 percent market share, with the OPTIQ ranking as the most registered luxury EV in the country through June.

GM currently offers 13 EV models in Canada, more than any other automaker, ranging from full size electric trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, and GMC HUMMER EV, to luxury SUVs such as the Cadillac Escalade IQ, OPTIQ, and LYRIQ. The lineup also includes family focused models like the Chevrolet Blazer EV and commercial EVs from BrightDrop, supporting the shift to zero emission transportation.

In fact, check out this great deal on a 2024 AWD Chevrolet Equinox RS EV, listed at $44,577 CAD.

** I have no affiliation with the dealership **

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Lion Electric Voids Warranties on School Buses Outside Quebec.

Hundreds of electric school buses manufactured by Lion Electric are losing their warranties following the company’s restructuring, leaving school districts across North America facing costly repairs. In a letter to customers outside Quebec, Deloitte Restructuring stated that warranties on all Lion vehicles sold in those regions are now void.

The decision impacts districts such as Herscher CUSD No. 2 in Illinois, where six of its 25 Lion buses require repairs. The district, which invested in electric buses with nearly $10 million in state and utility funding, is now working with third party vendors at its own expense to keep vehicles operational.

Other districts report similar challenges. Winthrop Public Schools in Massachusetts has parked all four of its Lion buses, with two needing repairs that the district will not fund due to recurring issues. In Maine, Yarmouth School Department’s two Lion buses purchased in 2023 have been largely inoperable, with frequent error codes and long service delays. The buses did not operate at all during the 2024–25 school year.

Lion Electric was recently acquired by Groupe MACH and the Mirella & Lino Saputo Foundation, who invested in the company in 2023. While Deloitte made the decision to void the warranties during the bankruptcy process, the new owners have yet to announce any plans to reinstate them.

United Chargers Launches Grizzl-E Club Offering Free Home EV Chargers and Cash-Back Rewards.

Ontario-based United Chargers Inc. has introduced the Grizzl-E Club, a subscription program that provides Canadian EV drivers with a free Level 2 home charger, lifetime warranty, and cash-back rewards for charging at home. The initiative is designed to reduce the upfront cost of EV ownership and reward drivers with $0.03 for every kilowatt-hour of electricity used.

Members receive a Grizzl-E Ultimate 48A or 80A charger, with the first year’s subscription free and an annual fee of $120 starting in year two. The program also includes lifetime product support and access to future hardware upgrades.

The rewards are funded through Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations, which require gasoline and diesel suppliers to reduce carbon intensity or purchase credits from organizations that help cut emissions. Using its Grizzl-E Connect software, United Chargers tracks residential charging data, calculates avoided emissions, and generates carbon credits that are sold to fund the program.

Launched earlier this month, Grizzl-E Club has already attracted over 1,000 members. United Chargers aims to grow membership to 20,000 by mid-2026, with plans to increase cash-back rates to as much as $0.05 per kilowatt-hour. The company is also exploring partnerships with utilities to add demand response tools and other incentives.

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Tesla Faces Legal and Leadership Challenges Amid Robotaxi Push.

A Florida jury has ordered Tesla to pay $243 million in damages over a 2019 fatal crash involving a Model S with Autopilot engaged. The verdict, a rare win for victims in Autopilot-related cases, could encourage more lawsuits and increase settlement costs. Jurors found Tesla partly liable for the crash, which killed Naibel Benavides Leon and seriously injured Dillon Angulo, after determining the Autopilot system was used outside its intended design without adequate safeguards. Tesla denies fault, plans to appeal, and maintains no car could have prevented the collision.

At the same time, activist shareholders have filed a proposed class action lawsuit in Texas federal court accusing Tesla and Musk of misleading investors about safety risks in the Austin Robotaxi program launched on June 22. The suit cites videos of autonomous vehicles speeding, braking abruptly, and dropping passengers in unsafe locations. While Tesla has reported only one incident since launch, critics say the issues highlight potential risks as the company rapidly expands its autonomous fleet. Musk has warned that activist shareholders could threaten his role as CEO.

In response to concerns over leadership stability, Tesla has granted Musk a new $29 billion stock package comprising 96 million shares priced far below market value. The award, contingent on Musk remaining in a key role until at least 2027 and holding the shares until 2032, is intended to reinforce his commitment and voting power. The move comes amid slowing sales, heightened legal scrutiny, and an ongoing appeal over Musk’s voided 2018 compensation plan.

As much as the Robotaxi roll-out seems to have a clear path, and arguably so do the Optimus robots, the EV future is for Tesla is foggy on the path forward. While there have been rumours of a performance EV, a smaller Cybertruck and an “affordable” model - nothing is certain.

Chevrolet Confirms 2027 Bolt Return with Updated Design and Tesla-Compatible Charging.

Chevrolet has officially teased the return of the Bolt for the 2027 model year, confirming updates to design, technology, and charging capabilities. The announcement comes after GM discontinued the compact EV in 2023, a move that sparked strong public demand for its comeback.

Images shared by GM reveal a refreshed front fascia, redesigned taillights, and the adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug, aligning with GM’s broader shift to the charging connector across future models.

The 2027 Bolt will be offered exclusively in the larger EUV form, discontinuing the smaller hatchback. It will feature GM’s latest lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology and updated safety systems, delivering improved efficiency and durability while lowering production costs.

While pricing has not yet been announced, GM has indicated the new Bolt will be positioned near or below $30,000 USD, keeping it among the most affordable EVs in the market. The original Bolt launched in 2016 and earned a reputation for compact size, practicality, and value which are qualities GM aims to carry forward in the updated model.

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Ford Invests $5 Billion USD in New EV Platform, Production System, and Midsize Electric Pickup.

Ford Motor Company is investing approximately $5 billion to develop a new electric vehicle platform, introduce an advanced manufacturing process, and launch a midsize electric pickup. The investment will support nearly 4,000 jobs across the Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky and BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, which will produce prismatic lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

The first vehicle built on the Ford Universal EV Platform will be a four-door midsize electric truck with a targeted starting price of about $30,000. Scheduled for release in 2027, the truck will offer more passenger space than the latest Toyota RAV4, along with a front trunk and truck bed. It is expected to deliver performance comparable to a Mustang EcoBoost, with instant torque and a low center of gravity for improved handling.

The new platform is designed to reduce parts by 20 percent, cut assembly time by 15 percent, and lower total cost of ownership compared to a three-year-old Tesla Model Y. Its cobalt-free and nickel-free prismatic LFP battery pack serves as a structural component, improving interior space and driving dynamics while reducing weight.

Ford is also introducing the Ford Universal EV Production System, replacing the traditional assembly line with an “assembly tree” that allows three major sub-assemblies to be built in parallel before joining together. This approach shortens build times by up to 40 percent, improves ergonomics for workers, and reduces complexity through the use of large single-piece aluminum castings and simplified wiring systems.

The Louisville Assembly Plant will expand by 52,000 square feet, gain new digital infrastructure, and secure 2,200 hourly jobs with support from the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority. BlueOval Battery Park Michigan will produce the LFP batteries beginning next year. Combined, these investments strengthen Ford’s U.S. manufacturing footprint and domestic EV supply chain.

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QuickEV

• EVgo secures $225 million to expand its EV charging network.

• Jaguar Land Rover’s CEO Is Out.

• General Motors delivers over 19,000 EVs in July, up 115% year-over-year.

• Zero begins deliveries of its new low-cost electric motorcycles.

• Tesla Inks $16.5 Billion Samsung Chip Deal For AI.

• World record alert: 2026 Chevy Silverado EV Work Truck drove 1,060 miles on a single charge.

EV Tweet of the Week