‘Canada loves Musk’: Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s take on Tesla’s record sales amid calls to revoke Elon Musk’s citizenship

Elon Musk, one of the world’s most influential entrepreneurs, is facing rising opposition in Canada, where a petition has gained significant traction calling for the revocation of his Canadian citizenship. Despite this controversy, Tesla, the electric vehicle (EV) giant led by Musk, continues to see record-breaking sales in the country. A recent report revealed that Tesla sold an impressive 8,600 vehicles in just 72 hours, generating over $43 million in rebates before the federal government’s iZEV incentive program ended. The situation presents an interesting paradox—while many Canadians are pushing to strip Musk of his citizenship, his business empire in the country is flourishing. This dynamic has caught the attention of industry leaders, including Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, who reacted to the situation with a succinct social media post stating, “Canada loves Musk.”
The unfolding events highlight a complex relationship between Musk and Canada, where his business success contrasts with public sentiment expressed through the petition. While Tesla continues to expand its footprint in Canada, Musk himself has emphasized his American identity, adding another dimension to the ongoing debate.

A report based on records from Transport Canada revealed that Tesla experienced a massive surge in sales in the country, particularly in the final days of the government’s iZEV (Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles) rebate program. The program, which provided a $5,000 discount to EV buyers, saw overwhelming demand before being exhausted. Within just 72 hours, four Tesla stores across Canada recorded a total of 8,600 vehicle sales, marking a record-breaking achievement for the company.
The sales boom was particularly evident in Quebec City, where over 4,000 Tesla cars were sold in a single weekend. This surge indicates that many Canadian buyers rushed to secure their electric vehicles before the subsidy program ended, resulting in Tesla generating millions in rebates during this period.

The sales figures prompted a reaction from Vijay Shekhar Sharma, CEO of Paytm, who shared his thoughts on the situation via a post on X (formerly Twitter). In a brief but pointed comment, he stated, "Canada loves Musk," alongside a repost of a news article detailing Tesla’s success in the country. His remark highlighted the stark contrast between Musk’s growing business in Canada and the rising public discontent reflected in the citizenship petition.

Despite Tesla’s impressive sales performance, a significant number of Canadians are advocating for Elon Musk to lose his citizenship. A petition, launched in February 2025, has attracted hundreds of thousands of signatures, calling for the revocation of Musk’s Canadian citizenship.
According to the petition, Musk has allegedly acted against Canada’s national interests and sovereignty. It accuses him of:

These concerns were highlighted in a report by the BBC, which detailed the petition’s claims and its growing support among Canadian citizens.

The petition has gained momentum across social media platforms, with many Canadians expressing their concerns about Musk’s influence. However, there has been no official government response regarding the possibility of revoking his citizenship.
Legal experts suggest that revoking citizenship, especially for someone as high-profile as Musk, is an extremely rare and complex process. Canadian law generally does not allow for the revocation of citizenship unless it was obtained fraudulently or under false pretenses, making it unlikely that Musk would lose his citizenship based on public demand alone.

Amid the ongoing debate, Elon Musk himself addressed the topic of national identity in a social media post. Taking to X, Musk clarified his personal stance, stating:
"Should note that I grew up as English South African, not Afrikaans, and consider myself to be simply an American. No hyphen."
This statement underscores Musk’s view of himself as an American citizen first, distancing himself from discussions regarding his Canadian nationality. While Musk was born in South Africa, he later moved to Canada before settling in the United States, where he has built his career and business empire.