On July 2, Ottawa began a month-long public consultation to determine its strategy, emphasizing concerns that China’s unfair support for the electric vehicle (EV) sector could, if unchecked, lead to a significant rise in imports that would adversely affect planned EV investments and the transformation of Canada’s automotive industry.
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD is actively exploring opportunities to penetrate the Canadian automotive market, as revealed in a regulatory document filed earlier this month. This strategic move comes at a time when Canadian authorities are deliberating the introduction of tariffs on vehicles imported from China.
In a bid to safeguard its automotive industry and align with international allies like the United States and the European Union, Canada announced in June its contemplation of tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. This consideration stems from concerns over what is perceived in Western circles as an overly subsidized Chinese EV industry. To better gauge public opinion and industry impact, Ottawa initiated a month-long public consultation period starting July 2, emphasizing the potential threats of unchecked Chinese support for its EV sector. Officials warned that without intervention, there could be a significant influx of imports, potentially undermining domestic EV investments and the broader transformation within Canada’s automotive sector.
The specifics of when BYD Canada’s representatives met with Canadian government officials remain undisclosed. The regulatory filing also left the timeline for BYD’s entry into the Canadian market vague, but discussions around the possible implications of new tariffs on electric vehicles were noted. Additionally, the company’s intention to launch passenger electric vehicles in Canada was confirmed.
In a related development, BYD introduced the Shark, a mid-size hybrid-electric pickup truck, in Mexico in May. This launch occurred as BYD’s regional head downplayed the impact of recent U.S. tariff increases on Chinese EVs, clarifying that the U.S. market was not the company’s target.
