A survey commissioned by Clean Energy Canada and reported by Electrek finds that Canadian EV demand is ticking up, but a large share of would-be buyers are holding off. Among the 48% of Canadians who said they are inclined, likely, or certain to buy an EV as their next vehicle, 42% said they want to wait until more Chinese EVs are available.
The context is a rapid policy shift. Canada originally matched the U.S. 100% tariff on Chinese EVs, but after trade tensions with the U.S. and a Chinese tariff on Canadian canola, Ottawa reached a deal allowing 49,000 Chinese EVs per year. So far only about 16,000 have been imported, and many brands are still building out distribution networks, leaving buyers waiting for a wider selection.
The report suggests Canadian buyers increasingly see Chinese EVs as higher-tech and better priced than Western options, though it notes prices in Canada will likely be higher than in China. It also points to Western automakers' recent lobbying against EVs as a reason buyers are looking elsewhere. The source is an opinionated analysis, but the underlying survey data and trade details are presented as reported.