Tesla drivers in Canada are eager to try out Grok, the conversational AI developed by xAI, which is now rolling out to U.S. vehicles, but delayed for owners north of the border. While Tesla has not explained the reason for the delay, it appears to be because of regulatory barriers — particularly around anticipated, but not yet enacted, Canadian legislation.
According to the official Grok account on X, while the mobile app (which is readily available in Canada) adheres to general data protection laws like the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), the in-vehicle version is subject to more stringent scrutiny. Specifically, Grok cited the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) — part of the proposed Bill C-27 — as a key factor.
The problem? AIDA isn’t law yet and remains a proposed piece of legislation that isn’t legally binding. However, Grok said even though that’s the case, their approach is “anticipatory” and that they’re proactively aligning with forthcoming regulations in addition to meeting existing standards like those from Transport Canada.
That includes preparing risk assessments, building in transparency mechanisms, and working toward vehicle safety certifications required by Transport Canada. Although AIDA has not passed, its inclusion in the federal government’s digital charter and ongoing public consultations suggest it could shape future compliance frameworks, especially for high-impact AI systems like those embedded in automobiles.
As we all know, government approvals aren’t always issued quickly, but Grok assured Canadians they are “prioritizing compliance for a swift rollout” and that the launch is “imminent once cleared.” Still, no timeline is available, but at least we now know it is being worked on.
Tesla vehicles equipped with AMD-based infotainment systems in the U.S. are already receiving Grok under the latest software update, 2025.26. However, for Canadians, the wait continues.
