Ottawa says several automakers are seeking access to Canada’s China-built EV quota.
Lotus vehicles are en route, while Nissan is studying China-made EV imports.
BYD, Chery and Zeekr are preparing Canadian entries, but sales may wait until 2027.
Canada’s quota system for China-built EVs continues to attract interest from multiple automakers, even though no vehicles had entered the country at the time of writing the story.
Global Affairs Canada said federal officials are working with “several” companies seeking access to the initial allocation. The first quota period covers 24,500 vehicles and runs until Aug. 31. Ottawa is distributing access on a first-come, first-served basis while reviewing applications for equitable access.
The first arrivals may be close. Geely Holding has said at least 18 Lotus Eletre electric SUVs are already headed to Canada. The luxury brand is one of several Geely-owned nameplates with potential access to China-built supply.
Tesla also appears to be bringing a lower-cost Model 3 variant to Canada from China. The company did not confirm the vehicle’s production source, but its Shanghai plant has previously supplied the Canadian market. The model does not qualify for Canada’s federal EV rebate because the program excludes vehicles built in countries without a free-trade agreement with Canada, including China.
Other established automakers are assessing whether the new trade framework can support additional imports. Nissan Americas Chairman Christian Meunier has stated that the company is evaluating a plan to import 3,000 to 4,000 entry-level EVs from its Dongfeng joint venture in China.
Geely Opens China-to-Canada EV Route With First Lotus Eletre Shipment
This perspective could point to growing interest from incumbent brands with Chinese production capacity. Most major global automakers active in Canada also manufacture vehicles in China through local joint ventures.
David Adams, CEO of Global Automakers of Canada, said he is not aware of member companies aggressively pursuing China import strategies. However, he said trade uncertainty is forcing automakers to examine different options.
New Chinese brands are also preparing Canadian entries, though sales are not expected before 2027. As previously reported, BYD, Chery and Zeekr are among the companies furthest along, with dealer talks and certification work underway.
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Zeekr began recruiting for Canadian leadership roles in April and has expanded hiring to more than 20 Toronto-based head-office positions. Chery brought testing or demonstration vehicles into Canada in April as it works with potential dealer partners.
Jason Zhao of DSMA said Chinese automakers have slowed or reduced their Canadian launch ambitions. He said limited quota access complicates the business case for both manufacturers and dealers.
Source: Automotive News
