The Vancouver International Auto Show has excluded Tesla from its lineup, citing safety concerns as the company faces global protests and incidents of vandalism. A spokesperson for the event, which began on March 19, stated that Tesla was given multiple opportunities to voluntarily withdraw but was ultimately removed to ensure the safety of workers, attendees, and exhibitors.
Tesla has been the target of several ‘Tesla Takedown’ protests in cities such as Ottawa and Vancouver, with demonstrators criticizing CEO Elon Musk’s influence on U.S. politics. Musk has faced backlash for his advisory role to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who imposed tariffs on Canadian goods and controversially suggested making Canada the 51st U.S. state.
Musk previously made remarks about Canada, including a now-deleted post on X in February 2025 where he stated, “Canada is not a real country,” after a petition with hundreds of thousands of signatures called for the government to revoke his dual citizenship. Although born in South Africa, Musk obtained Canadian citizenship in his youth through his Canadian-born mother.
Adding to Tesla’s challenges in Canada, British Columbia Hydro recently excluded the company’s products from its electric vehicle rebate program. The provincial government’s decision aligns with a broader policy to prioritize Canadian-made goods and exclude U.S. products from rebates amid ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. Musk criticized the move as “crazy” but has not commented on Tesla’s removal from the Vancouver auto show. The Vancouver International Auto Show runs through March 23.
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