04:45 29-06-2026
Chinese EVs arrive in Canada: Lotus, of all brands, goes first
Geely will be the first Chinese-owned brand to enter Canada under a new tariff deal. Lotus EVs ship in July, with a delivery ceremony in Montreal.
Geely will be the first to take advantage of Canada’s newly opened door for Chinese electric vehicles. According to Reuters, EV shipments under the Lotus brand will begin in July, with a launch ceremony planned for Montreal.
This is more than just a local story about a single shipment. Lotus will become the first Chinese-owned and Chinese-built brand to enter the Canadian market under the agreement struck by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The deal allows up to 49,000 Chinese EVs per year into Canada at a reduced duty — 6.1% instead of the previous 100%. At the old rate the trade was effectively impossible; at the new one, it finally makes sense.
According to Autoblog, the model heading to Montreal is the Lotus Eletre — a premium electric crossover with a starting price of around $84,000. In other words, Geely is entering the market not with a mass-market model, but with its flagship.
“Geely EVs will be arriving in Canada next month and they will be holding a ceremony when the cars are delivered in Montreal,” China’s ambassador to Canada Wang Di told Reuters.
Lotus declined to comment, and Canada’s foreign ministry refused to discuss specific shipments, citing commercial confidentiality.
Chery and BYD could be next. According to Wang Di, both brands are already going through the paperwork with Canadian agencies and expect to wrap it up by autumn. BYD has been more cautious in its forecast: executive vice president Stella Li told Reuters that sales would most likely start only next year.
For Canada, this is a way to ease its dependence on trade with the U.S. and add some heat to its EV market. For China, it’s a chance to get a foothold in a country where Tesla already ships its Chinese-built Model 3 from Shanghai — and has even dropped its price to a record-low C$39,490 for North America — but where a full-scale push from BYD, Chery and Geely is still pending.
The automotive story here goes well beyond politics. Once Chinese EVs get a clear tariff regime, they’ll be able to pressure Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, Ford and GM not just on price, but on the speed of their updates. Lotus is moving in as a premium flagship, but the real fight begins when mass-market BYD and Chery follow.
Chinese EVs are no longer going only where there’s no alternative. They’re showing up on markets that already have choice — and that’s what shifts the balance most.