As Manitobans make the switch to electric vehicles and hope to cash in on a provincial rebate, one driver is warning the devil is in the details after he was denied the rebate for months. Luigi Iafolla bought a pre-owned 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, a plug-in hybrid vehicle, to make his daily commute cheaper. “With this vehicle, I figured I had the best of both worlds being a plug-in hybrid and then being able to take it on long trips if I need it so,” Iafolla said. One factor that drew him to the Jeep was Manitoba’s Electric Vehicle Rebate Program, offering up to $4,000 back subject to criteria. Iafolla did his homework and according to the province’s own website back in April 2025, his model was eligible. After his purchase, he went to the Manitoba Public Insurance’s website to verify his vehicle’s eligibility using the vehicle identification number (VIN). “I tried to punch (the VIN) in and then it came back invalid – that my vehicle was too old,” Iafolla said. Using the Wayback Machine, CTV News verified that as of April 30, 2025, the list shows his model as an eligible model. Iafolla said he wrote several emails asking his rebate claim of $2,500 to be honoured – but the province told him he was ineligible due to the criteria of vehicles younger than four model years as the maximum. But when CTV News reached out for answers, the province had a different response, saying the issue had been resolved. “Manitoba Environment and Climate Change has reached out to the individual in question to advise him that his purchase remains eligible for the rebate,” a spokesperson for the province said in a statement. While thankful for the rebate, Iafolla said he would like to see some changes to the program. “I would say, go back to maybe five years and make it reasonable. Because if you’re going to put a certain price limit on it, cars are getting more expensive – especially EVs,” he said. “I understand it is based on budgets and funds; they only have so much that they can support. It’s great they’re doing this but I would like to see it expand it a little bit more.”
