The province wants 90 per cent of all vehicle sales to be ZEVs, including PHEVs, by 2035

The Quebec government is rolling back its planned ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles in 2035.

Instead of requiring 100 per cent zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales by that date, the province has lowered it to 90 per cent, with conventional or plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) now included in the target. 

“The world has changed, and Quebec must adapt,” says Bernard Drainville, Quebec’s new environment minister, in a statement. “My priority is to find the right balance between protecting the environment and economic development. Quebec consumers will benefit from this, as they will have a wider choice of electric and hybrid vehicles.”

The province passed a bill in December 2024 to ban the sale of most passenger combustion vehicles by 2035. But in the first half of 2025, ZEV sales in Canada dropped significantly compared to late 2024, according to both Statistics Canada and S&P Global.

Even so, Quebec remains the country’s strongest market for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). Statistics Canada notes it is the only province where BEV registrations rose between the first and second quarters of 2025.

Drainville says the new approach will ensure businesses and workers are not penalized during this transition while keeping Quebec on track for electrification, despite trade tensions and shifting EV policies by the current United States government.

Industry response

The provincial government says it undertook the revision after consulting with auto manufacturers and car dealership representatives.

In response to the news, the Global Automakers of Canada (GAC) issued a statement saying its members are “cautiously greeting” the new adoption targets in advance of obtaining the full details of the proposal.

“We appreciate the Quebec government’s willingness to demonstrate flexibility in its application of the ZEV mandate,” says GAC. But the manufacturers also want the federal government and the provinces, specifically Quebec and British Columbia, to work together to create a single ZEV mandate for the entire country.

Electric Mobility Canada also issued a statement in support of Quebec’s decision to maintain an EV mandate.

“We commend the Quebec government for reaffirming its commitment to zero-emission mobility,” says EMC president and CEO Daniel Breton in a press statement. “Adjusting ZEV targets to reflect current market realities demonstrates a pragmatic approach, while maintaining medium- and long-term ambition.”

While EMC acknowledged that the decision to move from 100 per cent to a 90 per cent target was realistic, it also expressed concerns about including conventional hybrids in the standard, calling that decision “a step backwards” and asking for reconsideration of their inclusion, citing three main factors of concern.

First, it pointed to the significantly higher emissions output generated by hybrids.

Then, it says the inclusion of hybrids “will most certainly discourage private investment in charging infrastructure in Quebec…By suggesting that partial electrification is sufficient, the province could inadvertently slow down the momentum needed to build a robust, future-proof zero-emission mobility ecosystem.”

Finally, it concluded that no other jurisdiction in the world has implemented a ZEV mandate that counts hybrids in its regulations, adding that “this risks compromising Quebec’s leadership in transportation electrification.”