Hello! Thank you for checking out this week’s EV North Newsletter!

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:

• Tesla Blocked from Canadian EV Rebates as Government Freezes $43M in Claims.

• Tesla Removed from More Canadian Province EV Rebate Programs Amid Tariff Tensions.

• Hypercharge Partners with XCharge to Launch Bidirectional EV Chargers in Canada.

• Hyundai Motor Group to Invest $21 Billion in U.S. EV and Manufacturing Expansion.

• Tesla Hosts First-Ever Public ‘All-Hands’ Meeting Amid Slower Q1 Performance.

• Rivian Launches New Micromobility Startup, Also Inc., Ahead of R2 and R3 Rollout.

• + more!

Canada

Tesla Blocked from Canadian EV Rebates as Government Freezes $43M in Claims.

Tesla has been excluded from future participation in Canada's federal EV rebate programs following a government investigation into $43 million in rebate claims submitted earlier this year.

The automaker filed for a significant portion of the iZEV (Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles) federal rebate funds just days before the program was paused due to depleted resources. To justify the $43 million, Tesla would have needed to deliver over 8,000 vehicles across just four Canadian locations over a single weekend—a scenario critics say was not logistically feasible.

Reports suggest Tesla may have rushed to claim the rebates after learning the program was nearing its limit, in an attempt to secure incentives ahead of a possible demand spike. This strategy left other dealerships unable to access rebate funds, even though they had already applied discounts to EVs actually delivered to customers.

Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and newly appointed transport minister, Chrystia Freeland, announced that the $43 million in Tesla rebate claims has been frozen pending a full investigation. She also confirmed Tesla will be disqualified from future federal EV rebate programs, citing concerns tied to U.S. trade actions.

This federal decision aligns with provincial actions. British Columbia has already removed Tesla from its EV charger rebate program, and Nova Scotia recently excluded Tesla from its $2,000 new EV purchase incentive. However, Quebec’s revamped EV rebate program—set to launch next week—still lists Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y among eligible vehicles.

Are you on Reddit? Check out our subreddit at https://reddit.com/r/evcanada 

Tesla Removed from More Canadian Province EV Rebate Programs Amid Tariff Tensions.

Tesla is being dropped from electric vehicle rebate programs across Canada as provinces and the federal government push back against recent U.S. trade actions. British Columbia was the first to remove Tesla products from its EV rebate eligibility, citing cost thresholds and public concern over funds benefiting Elon Musk.

Following B.C.’s lead, other provinces began to act. Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Manitoba have all removed Tesla from their respective rebate programs. Manitoba also extended its ban to include all EVs manufactured in China, as Finance Minister Adrien Sala pointed to U.S. trade moves as a threat to Canada’s economy.

This week, Nova Scotia passed legislation to remove Tesla from its $3,000 EV rebate program, as well as incentives for chargers and inverters.

Currently, Tesla remains eligible for rebates in Newfoundland & Labrador and New Brunswick.

As incentives disappear, the Canadian resale market for Tesla vehicles is also shifting. The number of listings for used Teslas on AutoTrader.ca rose by 12.5% compared to March 2024, which is interesting considering that the average resale prices dropped by nearly 22% over the same period.

Hypercharge Partners with XCharge to Launch Bidirectional EV Chargers in Canada.

Vancouver-based Hypercharge Networks has announced a new partnership with XCharge North America to introduce bidirectional, battery-integrated EV chargers to the Canadian market. The collaboration will focus on deploying XCharge’s GridLink fast chargers to automotive dealerships and commercial sites in British Columbia and Ontario.

GridLink chargers are designed to reduce energy costs by eliminating demand charges and minimizing the need for expensive grid upgrades. Each unit has a base energy capacity of 215 kWh, expandable to 430 kWh, and supports renewable energy integration, including solar power.

Under the agreement, Hypercharge will handle customer support and software management, while XCharge NA will lead preventive hardware maintenance. Hypercharge technicians will also be trained and certified to perform corrective maintenance, ensuring reliable service for customers.

The launch supports Canada’s broader push toward transportation electrification and energy sustainability as more businesses and drivers transition to electric vehicles.

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EV Around the World 🌏

Hyundai Motor Group to Invest $21 Billion in U.S. EV and Manufacturing Expansion.

Hyundai Motor Group has announced a $21 billion investment in the United States between 2025 and 2028, supporting electric vehicle production, advanced technologies, and local supply chains. The move is expected to create over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs, including 14,000 full-time roles.

A major portion of the investment—$9 billion—will go toward expanding Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis production capacity in the U.S. to 1.2 million vehicles annually. The Group will upgrade existing facilities such as Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and Kia’s plant in Georgia to support this growth and improve vehicle quality.

An additional $6 billion will be used to localize parts manufacturing and improve logistics. This includes building a new Electric Arc Furnace steel mill in Louisiana through Hyundai Steel, with an annual capacity of 2.7 million tons. The goal is to improve access to low-carbon steel while increasing flexibility in response to global supply shifts.

Another $6 billion will support Hyundai’s push into next-gen mobility. Key areas include robotics, AI, autonomous vehicles, and advanced air mobility. The Group is deepening its partnerships with U.S.-based firms like Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Aptiv, and Waymo, while its affiliate Supernal continues work on its electric air vehicle.

Hyundai is also investing in energy infrastructure, including renewable energy projects and its involvement in the IONNA EV charging alliance. A partnership with Holtec International is focused on advancing Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology.

This multi-year investment builds on Hyundai’s long-standing U.S. presence, which began in 1986. The company will host the grand opening of its Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia this week. The facility is the largest economic development project in the state’s history and is part of Hyundai’s broader plan to deliver clean mobility and boost American job creation.

Personally, I hope this proves successful for Hyundai. I’m a fan of both Hyundai and Kia EVs.
Fingers crossed that the US President’s tariff and EV ban craze does not impede or hinder Hyundai’s advancements making the multiple billion dollar investment futile.

Tesla Hosts First-Ever Public ‘All-Hands’ Meeting Amid Slower Q1 Performance.

For the first time ever, Tesla held a public ‘all-hands’ meeting via livestream on X, marking a rare moment of transparency during what appears to be a challenging first quarter for the company. The livestream comes as Tesla faces its weakest delivery quarter in the last three years, prompting CEO Elon Musk to speak directly to employees—and the public.

Key Takeaways from the Public Meeting:

• Vehicle Production Milestone: Musk confirmed Tesla has now produced over 7 million vehicles, a number previously shared in October 2024.

• Workplace Culture: Musk called Tesla the top place to work and emphasized the company’s role in shaping a sustainable, tech-driven future.

• EV Demand & Products: He predicted that the Model Y will be the best-selling car of 2025, encouraged more buyers to consider the Model 3, and restated that the Cybertruck is bulletproof—though this remains unverified.

• Autonomy Claims: Musk reiterated that autonomous driving will boost the long-term value of Tesla vehicles, claiming that the current fleet is nearly ready for full autonomy and predicting regulatory approval worldwide within five years.

• Tesla Semi & Optimus: He announced ambitious goals for Tesla Semi, including plans to produce millions of units with future autonomous capability. Musk also claimed the Optimus humanoid robot is the most advanced in development, with production targets of 5,000 units in 2025 and 50,000 in 2026.

• Energy Products: He briefly touched on Tesla’s Megapack and Powerwall energy storage solutions but provided no major updates.

• AI and Dojo Progress: Tesla’s Dojo supercomputer is now live, though currently operating at just 5% capacity. Musk noted progress in factory automation and real-world AI development.

• Stock Market & Strategy: With Tesla’s stock down 40% year-to-date, Musk urged investors to "hold on to your stocks," reinforcing his belief in long-term value growth through autonomy and software.

This public-facing meeting appears to be a new tactic to address growing concerns from investors, customers, and employees amid declining stock performance and delivery numbers. Feedback from critics seem to be mainly positive, indicating that Musk has finally gone back to what made Musk successful - and that’s realigning the focus on renewable energy sources, maintaining a healthy planet earth and being the leader that employees would be proud to work for. No doubt that Tesla is a great company and has done amazing things, but for some, it’s hard to get passed the “Elon Musk factor”.

There was no discussion relating to Elon Musk’s involvement in US politics, DOGE or anything outside of the future of Tesla - which in my opinion, was refreshing.

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Rivian Launches New Micromobility Startup, Also Inc., Ahead of R2 and R3 Rollout.

Rivian has officially spun off its micromobility division into a new standalone company named Also Inc., marking a new chapter in its strategy to support electric transportation across a wider range of vehicle types. The California-based startup will focus on lightweight electric vehicles designed for short-range and urban mobility.

Rivian began exploring micromobility several years ago through a stealth project aimed at leveraging its core strengths—electric propulsion, software, and electronics—to create more affordable, high-performance small EVs. As the program matured, it became clear that the opportunity was large enough to support a separate business with a unique brand and focus.

While Rivian will remain a minority shareholder, the two companies may collaborate in the future, with potential access to Rivian’s retail presence. Also Inc. has secured $105 million in funding from Eclipse Ventures to support its next phase of development. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe will serve as Chairman of Also’s Board.

The announcement comes as Rivian continues preparations for the launch of its R2 midsize SUV at its Illinois plant. Customer deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of 2026, with the R3 platform also in development.

More details about Also Inc.’s upcoming products and plans are expected soon.

QuickEV

• [VIDEO] Tesla Model S Plaid loses VS Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra in a drag race.

• Tesla recalls 46,000 Cybertrucks.

• The Lucid Air Gets A $4,000 Discount For Tesla Owners.

• [VIDEO] Tesla Superfan reviews the Rivian R1S.

• Tesla quietly added extra Sentry Mode feature to deter vandals.

• BYD Hit $100 Billion. Next: An EV Factory Bigger Than San Francisco.

• [VIDEO] EDMUNDS U-DRAGS: Ford Mustang Dark Horse vs. Dodge Charger.

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