Chinese EVs are coming to Canada. How soon will they get here? How much will they cost?

buckle up! There is going to be a rapid change in the electric vehicle market in this country.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is reopening Canada to Chinese-made EVs, reducing the 100 per cent tariff imposed on imports to six per cent in 2024.

There is demand for more affordable and climate-conscious EVs and for an average customer, having Chinese EVs on the market means “more choice” and “more technology,” said Max Morris, sales manager for Shift Electric Vehicles in Burlington, Ontario.

While some people are praising the opening up of the EV market, others are raising concerns about the safety of vehicles from Chinese government-linked companies. Here’s what you need to know:

How many are there?

China has shaken up the global EV landscape in recent years by offering more affordable cars, SUVs and other battery-powered and hybrid electric automobiles.

China has More than 100 EV brandsBoosted by heavy subsidies, but there are 15 major names, Involved Geely, Chery, MG, Vulin and US-based Tesla — Which also makes some models in China.

• cross country checkup Asking: Why does Canada’s new EV deal with China matter to you? Leave your question Here And we can read it or call you back for Sunday’s show

But BYD left Tesla behind World’s top EV sellers Last year.

BYD intended to break into the Canadian market until then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau imposed hefty tariffs, in line with a similar U.S. measure under President Joe Biden.

Outside China, BYD’s largest market is Brazil, where it has a 80 percent Of all EV sales. Australia And Mexico The Chinese are also important buyers of EVs.

How many people are coming to Canada?

Initially, up to 49,000 EVs per year from China will be allowed into Canada, which Carney says is less than three per cent of the total car market.

This will increase to about 70,000 in the next five years.

Chinese EVs were already in Canada before the 100 percent tariff — It is exported by Polestar and Volvo, both Swedish companies owned by Geely and Tesla.

It appears there is substantial demand for cheap Chinese vehicles in Canada.

One abacus data pollwas released last year by clean energy canadaSuggests that a majority of Canadians wanted lower tariffs that would improve consumer affordability (53 per cent) or no tariffs on Chinese EVs (29 per cent).

How soon can they arrive?

We don’t have an exact timeline and don’t know what models might be available.

But the vehicles could arrive at Canadian ports in just a few weeks, says Addisu Lashitue, an associate professor at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business.

“Chinese EV makers can scale up production and ship faster, and BYD also operates its own cargo ships that could further reduce transit times,” he said in an email to CBC News.

He says the hurdle will be regulatory approvals and other compliance steps.

He says the federal government wants to speed up the return of Canadian canola and other products to the Chinese market with lower tariffs to avoid reciprocal delays.

Currently, China is set to reduce its tariffs on March 1

Lashiteau says he wouldn’t be surprised if new Chinese EVs arrive as early as March or April.

Will they be cheaper than other EVs?

It depends on the brand and model, but Chinese EVs can cost $10,000 to $15,000 less than similar size and range vehicles that are already popular in Canada.

One of BYD’s top sellers is a compact car with short range known as both the Seagull and Dolphin Mini. can go For under $30,000.

That could be attractive to first-time and returning EV buyers, says Morris of Shift Electric Vehicles, which specializes in used models.

“People who are buying these Chinese EVs may already have an EV and are looking to change things up,” he said, “maybe they’re not happy with their current car or maybe the manufacturer of their current car.”

He says that, in turn, will bring more used EVs to the market that will also be more affordable.

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Lashiteau says it will be “imperative” for other automakers to lower their prices, making EVs more accessible to consumers and ultimately helping Canada move toward its emissions reduction targets.

“With EVs still about 30 to 50 percent more expensive than comparable gasoline cars, reducing trade barriers would meaningfully lower the affordability barrier,” he said.

Who will sell them?

Right now, there are no branded dealerships for EVs made by Chinese companies.

But with Canada rolling out the welcome mat, those companies could move faster.

BYD has opened dozens of dealerships Since entering the Australian market in mid-2022 – and more than 52,000 vehicles have been sold there by the beginning of this year.

How do they compare?

Price is one thing, but consumers also want quality.

In the graphic above, you can see that when it comes to battery range the two Chinese brands have exceeded their advertised ranges compared to their popular Western counterparts.

motortrend 2024 pitted several Chinese brands against the popular Tesla Model 3 made in China, comparing the distance driven on a fully charged battery.

Some Chinese models went beyond the Model 3, although the outlet noted that travel range depends on factors such as driver speed.

Battery life is reduced in cold weather and charging takes longer, but after testing 67 vehicles in extreme cold the review site arenav Said to be three Chinese brands, including a model from BYD, outperformed the similar Tesla Model Y.

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Are they safe – and secure?

Safety ratings of Chinese EVs have improved significantly, according to reports InsideEVS.

Citing the ranking of European New Car Evaluation ProgramSeveral Chinese EVs were among the safest last year, including the BYD Seal 6, Volvo EX90 and Tesla Model Y.

But when it comes to cybersecurity, Carney is facing questions about allowing Chinese-made vehicles into Canada after previously calling China a threat.

Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Prime Ministers on the safety issue, as did Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who called Chinese EVs “subsidized spy cars.”

Andreas Schötter, a professor of international trade at the Ivy Business School in London, Ontario, says Carney needs to take this seriously.

“This is a huge concern for me when it comes to these types of vehicles that rely heavily on artificial intelligence with their more modern features and digital data transfer,” he said.

But he says he is “confident” the federal government will address the issue in a “sophisticated way.”