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!

Also, be sure to check us out on X / Twitter and LinkedIn!

In this issue:

• FLO to Close Quebec Manufacturing Facility Amid Market Pressures.

• Tesla Cleared in iZEV Rebate Investigation, Model Y Prices Drop in Canada.

• Rimac Nevera R Shatters 24 Performance Records, Reclaims 0–400–0 km/h Title.

• Lucid, Nuro, and Uber Join Forces to Launch Global Autonomous Robotaxi Fleet.

• Volvo ES90 Sets New Sustainability Benchmark for Electric Vehicles.

• + more!

Canada

FLO to Close Quebec Manufacturing Facility Amid Market Pressures.

Canadian EV charging leader FLO will shut down its Shawinigan, Quebec manufacturing facility by the end of August, citing market uncertainty, shifting government policies, and rising U.S. trade tensions. The closure affects about 30 employees and is part of a broader downsizing, with over 80 job cuts across Canada and the U.S., including at FLO’s Auburn Hills, Michigan facility.

Despite recently securing $136 million in funding, FLO says changing conditions—including reduced EV incentives, battery sector slowdowns, and political resistance to electrification—have made it difficult to maintain production levels. CEO Louis Tremblay emphasized the importance of adapting operations to align with today’s market realities, while reaffirming FLO’s commitment to electric mobility.

FLO will continue producing chargers at its Grand-Mère facility in Quebec and its Michigan plant, with additional support from subcontractors. Its residential product line, FLO Home, will remain unaffected. The company will also maintain its offices in Montreal and Vancouver as it pivots toward long-term sustainability.

Shawinigan’s mayor, Michel Angers, expressed disappointment, calling the closure a clear example of how policy instability can disrupt local economies. He urged continued support for the EV transition, highlighting the need for predictable frameworks that foster investment and job creation.

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

Tesla Cleared in iZEV Rebate Investigation, Model Y Prices Drop in Canada.

Transport Canada has officially cleared Tesla in its investigation into $43.2 million in iZEV rebate claims, confirming the automaker followed program rules with no evidence of fraud. According to Drive Tesla Canada, the probe was launched after Tesla submitted 8,653 claims between January 10–12, 2025, just after Transport Canada announced the program's funds were nearly depleted.

The unusually high volume of claims, primarily from four Tesla stores, including over 4,000 from Quebec City alone, led to questions about how so many deliveries could be made in such a short time. Tesla explained the claims were for previously scheduled deliveries that were accelerated so customers could qualify before the rebate program ended.

Transport Canada’s findings validated Tesla’s explanation, confirming that the vehicles were eligible and delivered within the required timeframe. Despite the clearance, Tesla remains excluded from future iZEV programs, a move that the company criticized, especially after learning of the funding freeze through media reports.

In other news, Tesla Canada has reduced the price of the Model Y Long Range AWD by $20,000 CAD, bringing it back down to $64,990 CAD,the same price as before U.S. tariffs took effect in April. The price drop suggests that Tesla may have shifted Model Y production for the Canadian market from the U.S. to its Giga Berlin facility in Germany.

Only the Model Y received a price reduction, while other Tesla models from U.S. factories remain subject to customs charges. The estimated delivery timeframe for the Model Y in Canada now points to September or October, which aligns with European export timelines. New paint options, such as ‘Diamond Black’ previously exclusive to Giga Berlin—have also appeared in Canada, further indicating the likely shift in production source.

Importing from China remains unlikely due to Canada’s 100% tariff on Chinese EVs, making Germany the most plausible source for tariff-free Model Y imports.

👋 Hello, one quick thing. If you’re enjoying this, can you do me a favour and forward it to a friend? Thank you!

EV Around the World 🌏

Rimac Nevera R Shatters 24 Performance Records, Reclaims 0–400–0 km/h Title.

Rimac has raised the bar once again with the debut of the Nevera R, an ultra-high-performance electric hypercar that has broken 24 world records, surpassing even the original Nevera’s achievements. In a high-speed test verified by Dewesoft, the Nevera R recorded a new 0–400–0 km/h time of just 25.79 seconds, reclaiming its crown with a 4.14-second improvement over its predecessor.

Other standout results include a 0–100 km/h time of 1.72 seconds. The Nevera R also reached 300 km/h in just 7.89 seconds, nearly 1.3 seconds faster than the previous model. It now holds the EV top speed record at 431.45 km/h (268.2 mph), making it the fastest accelerating production car to date, electric or otherwise.

These gains are the result of comprehensive upgrades:

• Aerodynamics: 15% more downforce and 10% greater efficiency thanks to a new fixed rear wing and diffuser.

• Tires: New Michelin Cup 2 tires enhance lateral grip and reduce understeer.

• Powertrain: Four electric motors producing a combined 2,107 hp, with a torque vectoring system adjusting power delivery 100 times per second for optimal control.

Some headline performance metrics:

• 0–100 km/h: 1.72 sec

• 0–200 km/h: 3.95 sec

• 0–300 km/h: 7.89 sec

• 0–400 km/h: 17.35 sec

• Quarter mile: 7.90 sec

• Standing mile: 19.71 sec

• Top speed: 431.45 km/h (268.2 mph)

Rimac CEO Mate Rimac emphasized that Nevera R represents a leap forward in hypercar capability, built on innovation while maintaining real-world usability. Only 40 units will be produced globally, each starting at €2.3 million (~$3,666,752 CAD).

Lucid, Nuro, and Uber Join Forces to Launch Global Autonomous Robotaxi Fleet.

Lucid, Nuro, and Uber have announced a strategic partnership to deploy a next-generation autonomous robotaxi program built exclusively for the Uber platform. The initiative aims to roll out more than 20,000 Lucid vehicles equipped with Nuro’s Level 4 autonomy system over six years, starting with a major U.S. city in 2026.

The program will use the Lucid Gravity SUV as its foundation, leveraging its long-range capability, high-efficiency design, and advanced vehicle architecture. Nuro will integrate its self-driving system, which features automotive-grade hardware and AI-powered software, directly onto Lucid’s production line, with Uber managing global deployment through its platform.

Key highlights of the partnership:

• Fleet Size: Over 20,000 Lucid vehicles planned.

• Autonomy: Powered by Nuro Driver™, a Level 4 autonomous system tested across multiple U.S. cities.

• Operations: Vehicles will be operated by Uber or third-party fleet partners and offered exclusively through the Uber app.

• Range Advantage: The Lucid Gravity’s estimated 450-mile range reduces downtime and improves cost-efficiency.

Uber has committed, reportedly $300 million USD in investments to both Nuro and Lucid, reinforcing its long-term focus on autonomous mobility. A prototype vehicle is already undergoing autonomous testing at Nuro’s proving grounds in Las Vegas.

Lucid brings its zonal electrical architecture, high-efficiency platform, and premium interior to the collaboration, while Nuro contributes nearly a decade of autonomous system development. Combined with Uber’s ride-hailing scale, 70 countries and 34 million trips per day, the partnership is designed to accelerate the adoption of autonomous ride services worldwide.

Nuro will oversee safety validation using simulations, closed-course trials, and supervised road testing to ensure readiness for public deployment.

Speaking of Lucid:

Do you enjoy one or all of the following?

• Learning about EVs?

• Deep dives on EVs and the EV industry as a whole?

• An email with character and humour?

• Someone else connecting the EV dots so you don’t have to?

Then The EV Wire is the place for you! Check it out below:

Volvo ES90 Sets New Sustainability Benchmark for Electric Vehicles.

Volvo has introduced the all-electric ES90, its most climate-conscious model yet, with production beginning later this summer. Built using climate-neutral energy, the ES90 has achieved one of the lowest carbon footprints of any Volvo vehicle, according to a newly released Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) report.

When charged using a European energy mix, the ES90’s total life cycle emissions reach 31 tonnes of CO₂. That figure drops to 26 tonnes with wind energy, making the ES90 roughly 50% cleaner than the S90 mild hybrid and 30% lower than the plug-in hybrid S90. Its footprint is also smaller than that of the EX40 and EC40.

Key sustainability highlights include:

• 800-volt architecture: Improves charging speed and energy efficiency while reducing vehicle weight.

• Aerodynamics: Best-in-class drag coefficient of 0.25.

• Recycled materials: Built with 29% recycled aluminum, 18% recycled steel, and 16% recycled polymers and bio-based materials.

• Sustainable interiors: Options include FSC-certified wood and Nordico upholstery made from recycled PET bottles and bio-attributed materials.

• Battery passport: A blockchain-based tool that provides traceability of raw materials and battery health.

The ES90 is the latest in a series of models for which Volvo has published third-party verified LCA reports, helping customers better understand the environmental impact of their EV choices. Available for order now in 17 European countries, the ES90 will begin customer deliveries later this year, with more markets to follow in 2026.

QuickEV

• Tesla officially launches Model Y in India.

• VinFast opens a new EV manufacturing plant in Vietnam.

• Kia EV4 Fastback Goes On Sale In The UK.

• Tesla exec hints at useful and potentially killer Model Y L feature.

• Zero and LiveWire race to launch affordable electric motorcycles for the US.

• Geely delists Zeekr and fully integrates it as a subsidiary.

• Elon Musk says Tesla is going to have ‘the most epic demo ever’, but we heard that before.

EV Tweet of the Week