<
https://thedriven.io/2025/02/19/toronto-dumps-tesla-from-grants-program-as-canadians-react-to-white-house-trade-war/>
"The Canadian city of Toronto has announced it will exclude Tesla electric
vehicles from its zero emissions grant program for taxi and limousine owners,
in direct retaliation against Elon Musk for what the city describes as the
“senseless” attacks against Canada from the new Trump administration.
A motion put forward by Toronto mayor Olivia Chow was passed by the council
last week that excludes Tesla EVs involved in the city’s vehicle-for-hire
sector from subsidising their permits and licenses.
Musk has emerged as a polarising figure, in the US, Canada and across the
world, due to his role in slashing employee numbers, seeking to eliminate
certain departments and agencies, and for amplifying Trump’s tariff threats and
far right political agendas on his X platform.
Doug Ford, the conservative governor of Ontario, of which Toronto is the
capital, earlier this month threatened to cancel a $C100 million contract with
Musk’s Starlink in response to the tariffs threat, saying he “won’t do business
with anyone hell bent on destroying” the Canadian economy.
Tesla EV sales plunged in January in many countries, falling by more than 60
per cent across Europe – more than 75 per cent in Spain – and by 33 per cent in
Australia. Musk supporters insist it is because customers are waiting for the
new Model Y, others say it is because of a consumer backlash against Musk
himself.
However,
Wired reports that prominent members of Tesla fan and merchandise
clubs in Europe have ditched their Tesla EVs and swapped them for another
vehicle. See:
Elon Musk’s toxicity could spell disaster for Tesla.
The
Driven understands that some in Australia are considering doing the same."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
