Interim Order: Vehicle Definitions and Trailer Suspension

Summary#

An interim order under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 temporarily changes how several vehicle-related regulations work in Canada. It aligns some Canadian vehicle definitions with recent U.S. regulatory language, raises a weight threshold used in light‑duty greenhouse‑gas rules to 6,350 kg (14,000 pounds), and pauses the heavy‑duty trailer requirements for trailers finished on or after January 1, 2020.

What it does#

• Revises the meaning of “medium‑duty passenger vehicle” in the On‑Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations to match the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations as it read on June 18, 2024.
• Changes a weight reference in the Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations so that the terms “automobile” and “work truck” use 6,350 kg (14,000 pounds) instead of 4,536 kg (10,000 pounds).
• Suspends the trailer requirements in the Heavy‑duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations so that those rules do not apply to trailers whose manufacture was completed on or after January 1, 2020.
• Repeals an earlier interim order made on January 31, 2025.
• The order was made on November 24, 2025, published in the Gazette on December 13, 2025, and is temporary: it will stop having effect after one year unless it is repealed sooner or the underlying regulations are amended.

Who's affected#

• Vehicle manufacturers and importers, especially those who build or sell medium‑duty and light‑duty vehicles.
• Trailer manufacturers and businesses that build or sell trailers completed on or after January 1, 2020.
• Companies that certify vehicle compliance with Canadian emissions and greenhouse‑gas rules.
• Regulators and testing labs that apply emission and greenhouse‑gas standards.
• Consumers are not directly named, but changes could affect which vehicles are regulated, available, or certified for sale in Canada.

If it’s unclear who will feel the effects in any specific case, that’s because the order changes how the regulations apply rather than spelling out specific business actions or timelines.

Why it matters#

• It changes which vehicles and trailers fall inside or outside Canada’s emission and greenhouse‑gas rules. That can change what manufacturers must test, label, or modify to meet Canadian rules.
• For trailer makers, the suspension could remove immediate regulatory obligations for trailers completed on or after January 1, 2020, which may affect compliance costs or record‑keeping.
• Aligning some definitions with U.S. rules may simplify cross‑border manufacturing and certification for companies that operate in both markets.
• The change is temporary (lasting up to one year) so businesses and regulators should watch for further amendments or a permanent rule change.