Canada's federal EV rebate program has paid out $122 million in claims since its relaunch in February , but many dealers are still waiting for reimbursement, raising concerns about cash flow and program administration.

The $122 million milestone

The Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP) has seen 24,389 claims recorded, with a total amount of $122 million in claims, leaving over $2.1 billion available, according to Transport Canada.

The data was released on Tuesday, three months after the program's relaunch on February 16.

Dealers left hanging

Many dealerships have not been reimbursed under the new program, with some waiting for more than $200,000 in rebates, according to the Canadian Auto Dealers Association.

Huw Williams, spokesperson for the dealers association, emphasized that the commitment to timely payment has not been fulfilled in the early days of the program, stating that repayment timelines are hurting business cash flow as dealers advance money on behalf of the federal government.

Williams noted that all dealers lost a dgeree of confidence after the massive delays in the previous iZEV program last year, and they want the current program to succeed.

The road to reimbursement

Transport Canada acknowledged the concerns and is working on a fix, reviewing cases where administartive errors may have led to rejected claims.

The department assured that there is no hold on repayments; complete and validated claims continue to be processed and reimbursed, though timelines may vary depending on validation requirements and submission volumes.

The long wait for Chinese EVs

Imported EVs are eligible only if they come from counntries with which Canada has free-trade agreements, which excludes Chinese-built EVs, including Teslas.

Under the former program, Teslas were the most popular, accounting for 30 percent of all rebates claimed between October and November 2025.

What's next for the EVAP?

The new program aims to accelerate EV adoption while addressing concerns about dealer reimbursement and administrative issues.

The federal EV rebate program originally launched in 2019 and was renewed several times before being shut down in January 2025 when funds ran out .