15% of Canadians would like to buy a Chinese EV, a poll says

15% of Canadians would like to buy a Chinese EV over cars from other manufacturers, according to a poll. It is the 6-percent increase from 2024. The rising customer loyalty towards Chinese electric cars is likely due to the latest tariff reduction announced in early 2026.

On January 16, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a tariff reduction from 100% to 6.1% on 49,000 Chinese electric cars imported annually. Previously, CarNewsChina reported that this adjustment will allow Lotus to slice the Eletre crossover’s price in Canada by 50% from 305,000 CAD (223,640 USD) to 156,750 CAD (114,940 USD).

This tariff reduction is also vital for Chinese-made Tesla, Geely (Volvo & Polestar), BYD, and Nio vehicles. It was previously reported that over 50% of 49,000 Chinese EVs imported in Canada at a tariff rate of 6.1% are expected to cost below 35,000 CAD (25,660 USD).

Lower tariffs and the potential arrival of affordable Chinese electric cars on the Canadian market have increased local interest in such vehicles. According to the latest poll by Nanos Research, a purchase decision of 53% of Canadians wouldn’t be affected by the Chinese origin of electric cars. It is a rapid rise, compared to 25% in 2024.

28% of Canadians said that they would be less likely to buy an EV knowing it was manufactured in China, down 33%, compared to 2024. Moreover, 15% shared that they would like to buy a China-made EV over cars from other manufacturers, up 6% from 2024.

Editor’s comment

Lower tariffs are one of the few reasons for growing customer interest in Chinese electric cars. Such vehicles are actively selling globally in the UK, Australia, the EU, and other regions. The prospect of using a Chinese car is gradually becoming more feasible. Moreover, Chinese electric vehicles have been building a reputation for high-tech products in recent years.

Chinese cars may be boring in terms of design and driving pleasure, but they can really surprise with their technical features, charging speed, and price-to-value ratio. Therefore, Canadians’ loyalty to such vehicles may continue to grow along with the actual increase in the number of made-in-China electric cars on the market.