Tesla Cut From BC Hydro’s Rebate Program, 20-Percent Cheaper Model Y Coming

Tesla’s sales are freefalling in most parts of the globe right now, but things are only going to get worse before they start to get better.

In the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25-percent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports, plus sweeping 25-percent tariffs on Canadian goods and 10-percent tariffs on Canadian energy to come into effect April 2, British Columbia this week excluded Tesla electric-vehicle charging stations, home batteries and inverters from BC Hydro’s rebate program.

“The Government of B.C. and BC Hydro are taking action to preference Canadian goods in our rebate programs going forward and to exclude, where practicable, U.S. produced goods,” according to a notice posted on the BC Hydro website.

Photo: Tesla

To be clear, customers who were pre-approved for Tesla products before March 12 are still entitled to their rebates. As for Tesla vehicles, they stopped qualifying for rebates of up to $4,000 following price hikes last fall.

Cheaper Model Y on the Way

In response to stiff competition and plunging sales globally, Tesla is reportedly working on a variant of its best-selling Model Y that will be smaller and 20-percent cheaper to build, three anonymous sources familiar with the matter told Reuters this week.

Photo: Tesla

Production of this new vehicle, apparently codenamed "E41," would begin at Gigafactory Shanghai in 2026 mainly for the Chinese market. One of the sources said it would also be manufactured in Europe and North America, without providing a time frame.

The report from Reuters goes on to suggest that this cheaper Model Y will use existing assembly lines and technologies from current models in order to keep the costs down.

A few weeks ago while sharing last-quarter and 2024 results, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that “plans for new vehicles, including more affordable models, remain on track for the start of production in the first half of 2025.” The new EVs will be made on the same assembly lines as current models.

Styling is anyone’s guess. So are specs like power, battery size and range, although it’s pretty safe to assume the electric motors and batteries will be borrowed from the Model Y and Model 3. Look for an official reveal to take place later in 2025.

Share on Facebook

More on the subject

NewsTesla Cybertruck Impresses in First Official Crash Tests
Tesla’s polarizing Cybertruck first hit the road in the U.S. in late November of 2023 and in Canada last fall, but it had yet to undergo official crash tests other than the ones conducted by the automaker internally. That’s no longer the case, and the results are quite impressive. The …
ElectricTesla Slashes Cybertruck Prices by $23,000 in Canada
Tesla has dramatically cut prices on the Cybertruck in Canada. Make no mistake, the polarizing electric pickup is still mighty expensive, but it’s a start toward more affordable models. As a matter of fact, the lineup once again consists of two models, but they’re not Foundation Series editions like the …
NewsThe 2025 Tesla Model Y Goes on Sale in North America
The new Tesla Model Y (codenamed Juniper) will soon be delivered to North American buyers. Orders are open on the carmaker’s website, stating that the first deliveries will take place in March 2025. Compared to the outgoing model, the new Y features a completely redesigned front-end, with new headlights linked …
ElectricTesla Raises Prices Again, Steeper Hikes to Follow on Feb. 1
A number of automakers have stepped up to offset the sudden loss of the $5,000 subsidy from the Canadian government’s iZEV program. Hyundai, Volkswagen, Nissan , Ford and General Motors are all offering a similar rebate for eligible customers until January 31, 2025. Hopefully, the auto industry will adjust by …

By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to the use of cookies as described in our Privacy Policy.