Canada has had enough of Tesla. The car brand has been kicked out of a car show, and now the possibility of government support is also gone.
Tesla is now experiencing Canada restricting the car brand in several areas. Now the government subsidy for the brand's cars is being withdrawn.
This is happening during a period when the Canadian public is also turning its back on the brand.
Several places in the huge country have enacted regulations that limit Tesla's opportunities for public support.
In British Columbia, BC Hydro, the province's largest energy distributor, has chosen to exclude Tesla cars from the program that keeps the price of charging down.
"It only affects Tesla, and it's because of Elon Musk," says David Eby, British Columbia's premier, after the decision.
The decision, which took effect last week, affects Tesla's own superchargers, energy centers and inverters.
Residents of British Columbia must choose a different brand if they want to take advantage of discounts of up to 350 Canadian dollars on the cost of electricity.
According to the CBC, those who have purchased or have already purchased their Tesla before March 12 may still qualify to get the cheaper power.
The Prime Minister justified the decision by saying that taxpayers would 'throw up' if they knew that Canadian subsidy dollars were going directly into Tesla's own pockets.
– I believe that Tesla should not receive public support right now, says Energy Minister Adrian Dix.
– I don't think anyone in British Columbia needs to know why. And I think most people would support Tesla now being stripped of that kind of support.
In Toronto, Mayor Olivia Chow has banned financial incentives for Teslas purchased as taxis or for carpooling.
Reuters writes.
In a press conference, Chow stated that Tesla electric cars will no longer be eligible for incentives as of March 1. However, the company is ready to drop the rule again if the trade war between the US and Canada is resolved.
– There are other electric cars they can buy.
Olivia Chow added that the decision was made to hit Tesla and respond to Elon Musk, who, according to Canadians, has too close a relationship with US President Trump.
However, it's not just public funding that Tesla is losing. The brand has also been kicked out of the Vancouver International Auto Show. Officially, because Canada fears for safety at the auto show.
According to the Associated Press, the event's executive director, Eric Nicholl, said he asked Tesla to withdraw. It was said to have been voluntary.
The decision was made after so-called "Tesla Takedown" protests over the weekend in Ottawa and Vancouver, where participants expressed their dissatisfaction with Musk's tactics and Trump's call to annex Canada.
However, it's not just Canadian drivers who are ignoring Tesla. The brand also saw its sales in February drop by a whopping 58 percent.
