After months of public backlash and a sharp sell-off, Tesla vehicles are once again sparking interest among Ontario consumers—especially in the pre-owned market. The shift follows Elon Musk’s high-profile departure from his role in the U.S. government’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-backed initiative that aimed to slash tens of thousands of public sector jobs and gut foreign aid agencies like USAID.
Musk’s involvement with DOGE triggered widespread disapproval earlier this year, particularly after he championed Trump’s divisive “One Big Beautiful” budget bill. That controversy led many Tesla owners to offload their vehicles, causing a noticeable spike in listings on used car platforms.
Dan Park, CEO of Ontario-based online dealership Clutch, reported that the number of Tesla owners trying to sell their vehicles nearly doubled between late February and early March. During the peak of the backlash, Clutch’s Tesla inventory ballooned to around 200 units.
However, since Musk’s departure from DOGE and his distancing from Trump’s administration, Ontario drivers seem to be warming back up to the idea of driving a Tesla. Park says consumer interest has returned gradually, with used Tesla prices falling enough to tempt new buyers. Model 3 prices dropped by 11 per cent in March, while Model Y prices plunged by 15 per cent.
Currently, Clutch’s inventory has normalized to about 60 Teslas, and sales are ticking upward again. While the number of Tesla sellers is still roughly 10 per cent higher than last fall, Park notes that more people are now buying than selling. “It’s amazing,” he said. “Sometimes, the consumer memory is relatively short.”
Electric vehicle sales overall on the platform have risen by one per cent, and the average price of a used car in May reached $33,221—up from $31,500 in August of last year.
With prices settling and public sentiment stabilizing, Teslas seem to be cruising back into favour among Ontario’s EV enthusiasts.