Lotus ships first China-built EVs to Canada under new 6.1% tariff quota
By Eve
Geely-owned Lotus has exported 18 Eletre SUVs from its Wuhan plant to Montreal, becoming the first Chinese manufacturer to use Canada's new tariff-quota framework agreed earlier this year. The deal replaces a 100% tariff with a 6.1% rate on the first 49,000 China-built EVs annually, rising to 70,000 by year five, and has cut the Eletre's Canadian price to 119,900 Canadian dollars, nearly half its previous level. More than 2,900 Chinese-produced EVs, mostly Shanghai-built Teslas, arrived in Canada during May, the first month under the new rules.
Why it matters: The lower tariff opens a significant new market for Chinese EV makers and their supply chains, with BYD and Chery also exploring entry. For charging operators, a potential surge in affordable Chinese EVs could accelerate demand for public infrastructure in Canadian cities and along major routes.