A charging port is seen on a Mercedes Benz EQC 400 4Matic electric vehicle at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 13, 2019. REUTERS/Mark Blinch//File Photo
A majority of Canadians might hesitate to buy an electric vehicle (EV) knowing it is made in China, while an even larger proportion supports the federal tariff on these imports, a survey shows.
The Nanos survey commissioned by The Globe and Mail found three out of five Canadians either support (43 percent) or somewhat support (20 percent) Ottawa’s recent decision to impose a tariff on Chinese-made EVs, citing concerns about the regime’s unfair trade practices. In contrast, about a quarter of the 1,093 participants say they oppose the measure.
British Columbians are most likely to support the tariff on Chinese EVs, with 70 percent in favour. Support is also strong across the country, with about 68 percent of Ontarians, 61 percent from the Prairies, and 60 percent from Atlantic Canada backing the measure. Quebecers are the least likely to support it, with 53 percent in favour.
Older Canadians (aged 55 and above) are more likely to support the tariff, with 52 percent supporting it and 22 percent somewhat supporting it. In contrast, just over half of younger Canadians (aged 18 to 34) support (33 percent) or somewhat support (18 percent) the move.
Beijing responded to Ottawa’s trade measure by announcing an investigation into Canada’s canola exports on Sept. 3, accusing Canada of canola dumping. This is the second time China has targeted the canola industry amid a dispute, previously imposing a three-year import ban in 2019 after Canada’s arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. The ban was lifted in May 2022, months after Meng’s release.
The regime threatened additional measures against Canada, including expanding the investigation to cover certain chemical products and challenging Canada’s tariffs through the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement mechanism.
Hesitancy Over ‘Made-in-China’ EVs
The Nanos survey asked Canadians if knowing an electric vehicle was made in China would affect their decision to buy it. The results show that people are much less interested in buying a made-in-China vehicle, with over 60 percent of respondents less likely or somewhat less likely to buy. In contrast, only about 12 percent would be more likely or somewhat more likely to purchase it. Around 25 percent said knowing the vehicle’s origin wouldn’t impact their decision.
While Chinese-branded EVs are not yet available in Canada, foreign-branded but China-made vehicles such as Teslas are already entering the country.
In 2023, total EV imports from China reached $2.3 billion, accounting for 13.3 percent of all imports to Canada and representing a significant increase from $116 million in 2022, according to the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).
Currently, Tesla’s made-in-China vehicles make up most of the Chinese EVs imported to Canada, Global Automakers of Canada President David Adams recently told The Epoch Times.
Tesla’s dominance may be challenged as the Chinese brand BYD plans to enter the Canadian automotive market. In July, BYD consultants filed documentation with Ottawa to discuss their potential entry into Canada’s passenger EV market.
Chinese EVs have a competitive edge due to their lower prices compared to other brands in Canada, with some models costing about a third of the cheapest alternatives, according to RBC. For example, the Tesla Model 3, the brand’s least expensive model, costs $50,000 in Canada, whereas BYD’s small Seagull model, is priced at about US$10,000 (CAD$13,500) in China.
The Nanos poll also found that just over one-third of Canadians (38 percent) consider price the most important factor in choosing an electric vehicle, while 35 percent prioritize range on a single charge. Only about eight percent say that the vehicle being made in Canada is the most important factor.