Canada to ban the sales of new gas- and diesel-engine cars and light trucks by 2035

Canada has announced its intention to ban the sale of new internal combustion-powered passenger cars and light trucks by 2035, according to a Reuters report, five years earlier than originally planned.

“That’s right – by 2035, all new cars and passenger trucks that are sold must be zero-emission,” confirmed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a tweet.

The 2035 target is part of the country’s plan to achieve a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.

To make this accelerated timetable work, Canada is hoping its offer of CAD $5,000 subsidy for purchases of electric vehicles priced under CAD $55,000 will boost sales of zero-emission vehicles.

This plan follows the actions of a number of provinces, such as Quebec and British Columbia, that have already laid out goals to eliminate combustion car sales by around the same time.

“We are committed to aligning Canada’s zero-emission vehicles sales targets with those of the most ambitious North American jurisdictions,” Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said in a statement.

With this planned ban, Canada joins the state of California and other countries that have committed to the goal including the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Italy, France and Japan.