First batch of chinese electric vehicles arrives in canada: Chery and Geely Test Vehicles Land in Toronto

According to InsideEVs, since Canada significantly reduced the import tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles from 100% to 6.1% in January this year, the first batch of Chinese brand electric and plug-in hybrid models has quickly arrived in the country.

A video released by YouTube creator Simply Gregster EV shows vehicles from Chery's overseas-focused sub-brand Jaecoo, as well as Omoda and Exeed, parked in a lot in Toronto. Some of the vehicles are already registered, including the Jaecoo J5 crossover, the Omoda 9 plug-in hybrid SUV, and the Exeed ES sedan.

According to CleanTechnica, Chery's first shipment to Canada consists of approximately 150 vehicles, which will not be sold directly to consumers but will instead be used for testing, certification, and test-drive programs. It is reported that Chery plans to ship another 1,000 vehicles to Canada within the next three months as part of its next phase of market expansion, with the first 10 dealerships expected to be ready by the end of June.

According to Automotive News, Geely's luxury brand Lotus has exported 18 Eletre high-end electric SUVs to Canada. Geely stated that this is the first Chinese automaker to export vehicles to Canada under the new trade framework. The Lotus Eletre model was launched in Canada in 2024, and the latest batch is the first to be shipped after the trade agreement was signed in January. The model has passed the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards certification, and its authorized dealer network opened 6 dealerships in March, with plans to add another 6 by the end of the year. Benefiting from the reduction in tariffs, the price of the Eletre in Canada has been reduced by about 50%.

As large numbers of Chinese-made electric vehicles arrive in Canada, the United States next door is growing increasingly awkward: both Canada to the north and Mexico to the south allow affordable Chinese-made vehicles to circulate freely, while American consumers are stuck with monthly payments as high as $1,000, ever-rising fuel prices, and an auto industry that has largely abandoned developing affordable electric vehicles—losing billions of dollars due to this strategic shift.