Chinese EVs are coming to Canada. How much will they cost?
- canevayyz
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Prime Minister Mark Carney is reopening Canada to Chinese-made EVs, lowering a 100 per cent tariff on imports, imposed in 2024, back to six per cent.
While some are applauding the EV market opening up, others are raising concerns about the safety and security of vehicles from companies tied to the Chinese government. Here's what you need to know.
How many are coming to Canada?
Up to 49,000 EVs a year from China will be allowed into Canada, initially, which Carney says is less than three per cent of the overall car market.
That will increase to approximately 70,000 over five years.
There were are already Chinese EVs in Canada prior to the 100 per cent tariff — exported by Polestar and Volvo, both of which are Swedish companies owned by Geeley, and Tesla.
There appears to be sufficient demand for cheaper Chinese vehicles in Canada.
An Abacus Data poll, released last year on behalf of Clean Energy Canada, suggests most Canadians wanted a lower tariff that would improve consumer affordability (53 per cent) or no tariff at all (29 per cent) on Chinese EVs.
How soon could they arrive?
We don't have an exact timeline and we don't know which models might be available.
But vehicles could arrive at Canadian ports in a matter of weeks, says Addisu Lashitew, an associate professor at McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business.
"Chinese EV makers can ramp production and ship quickly, and BYD even operates its own cargo ships that could further shorten transit times," he said in an email to CBC News.
The hurdle, he says, will be regulatory clearance and other compliance steps.
That's something the federal government might want to expedite to avoid reciprocal delays on getting Canadian canola and other products back into the Chinese market with lower duties, he says.
Currently, China is set to ease its tariffs on March 1.
Lashitew says he wouldn't be surprised if new Chinese EVs arrived as early as March or April.
Will they be cheaper than other EVs?
It depends on the brand and the model, but Chinese EVs can cost $10,000 to $15,000 less than those of similar size and range that are already popular in Canada.
One of BYD's top sellers, a compact car with a short range known as both the Seagull and the Dolphin Mini, can go for less than $30,000.
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