Lotus, the premium electric vehicle brand owned by Geely Holding Group, will begin delivering vehicles in Canada next month, marking the arrival of the first Chinese-owned and manufactured electric vehicles under the new China-Canada EV tariff agreement, according to Reuters.
China’s Ambassador to Canada, Wang Di, said a delivery ceremony will be held in Montreal after the first shipment arrives.
First Chinese EVs Under New Tariff Deal
The launch follows an agreement between Canada and China that allows up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles to enter the Canadian market annually under a most-favored-nation tariff rate of 6.1%.
According to Wang, Geely-owned Lotus will become the first Chinese automaker to sell vehicles in Canada under the new framework.
“Geely EVs will be arriving in Canada next month and they will be holding a ceremony when the cars are delivered in Montreal,” Wang said.
Lotus Expands Canadian Presence
Lotus announced on May 7 that the first shipment of 18 Eletre electric sport utility vehicles had departed for Canada after the company completed the country’s certification process.
The automaker described itself as the first premium electric vehicle brand to certify and ship fully assembled vehicles following Canada’s reduction of tariffs on Chinese-built EVs.
As of the first quarter of 2026, Lotus had established six authorized dealerships across Canada and plans to double that number to 12 before the end of the year.
More Chinese Brands Preparing Entry
Wang said other Chinese automakers, including Chery and BYD, are working with Canadian authorities to complete regulatory procedures before launching sales.
“I hope in autumn this year, the truly, genuinely other Chinese brand EVs will complete the procedures and get into the Canadian market,” Wang said through an interpreter.
Some vehicles have already entered Canada for testing purposes ahead of commercial sales.
BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li recently said the company is likely to begin Canadian sales in 2027.
Focus on Long-Term Investment
Canada is also seeking to attract investment in its domestic electric vehicle supply chain through partnerships with international manufacturers.
According to Wang, several Chinese automakers are interested in establishing joint ventures in Canada but intend to first build their sales networks and assess market demand before making longer-term investment decisions.
Tesla has previously imported China-built vehicles into Canada, but the arrival of Lotus marks the beginning of broader participation by Chinese automotive brands under the new bilateral tariff arrangement.
