ZENN cars stalled in Canada

TORONTO, ONTARIO - A Toronto manufacturer alleges the government is using regulations to block sales of its electric cars in Canada.

National Canadian regulators dragged their feet before finally requiring provincial approval for the electric cars built by ZENN Motor Co. and Transport Canada has also proposed language for low-speed cars that suggests they may be unsafe, ZENN founder Ian Clifford alleges. That's tantamount to a conspiracy by government officials, he told the Canwest News Service.

"I'm mystified," the company's chief executive officer said. "I've heard certain bureaucrats at Transport Canada, say to me, if it's the last thing they do, they're going to keep low-speed vehicles off the road."

Federal officials have denied any wrongdoing, Canwest reported.