Quebec Dealership’s 4,000 Vehicle Sales in a Weekend Raises Eyebrows

Transport Canada has launched an investigation into Tesla after a suspicious number of rebate requests were submitted during the final days of Canada’s electric vehicle incentive program.

Reports indicate that a single dealership in Quebec claimed to have delivered an implausible 4,000 vehicles over a single weekend, raising doubts among industry experts and competitors alike.

The situation unfolded as the Canadian government announced in January that funds for its EV rebate program, which offers up to $5,000 for electric car purchases, were quickly running out.

Four Tesla locations reportedly claimed to have sold a combined total of 8,653 EV

Although the program was intended to last until March, warnings issued by the government in mid-January prompted a last-minute rush for consumers looking to capitalize on the incentive.

This surge in demand saw Tesla—Canada’s most popular electric vehicle brand—deliver a staggering number of units as dealers scrambled to meet the deadline.

In the last three days of the rebate program, four Tesla locations reportedly claimed to have sold a combined total of 8,653 electric vehicles and filed for $43.1 million in rebates—more than half of the remaining funds.

However, skepticism has erupted over how these figures could correspond to actual deliveries. For instance, Tesla’s Quebec City location allegedly processed over 2,500 rebates in one day alone, a figure that industry insiders, such as Terry Budd, argue is simply not feasible given the dealership’s limited capacity.

The fallout has left other dealerships in a precarious position, as the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) revealed that its members are currently facing approximately 2,295 unreimbursed rebate requests totaling around $10 million.

As CADA presses the government for resolution, spokesperson Huw Williams stated, “These dealers in good faith gave customers the money for a program that is always refunded. They shouldn’t be left making a payment on behalf of the Government of Canada.”

With Transport Canada now investigating the validity of Tesla’s claims, the situation continues to develop, and many are left to wonder if Tesla manipulated the system to capitalize on the temporary rush for electric vehicles.