There are plenty of Canadian car buyers looking to make the jump from internal combustion to electric vehicles. According to Automotive News, a September survey published by the think tank Clean Energy Canada showed that 48 percent of respondents want an EV as their next car. And now that Canada will be allowing some Chinese EVs into the market, close to half of those potential customers are willing to wait for them.
Previously, Chinese EVs would have faced a 100% import tax in Canada. But last January, Canada changed that, allowing some in on a quota basis. Since then, Chinese manufacturers have been setting up dealer networks across Canada, and it seems customers are excited about it. According to the same study, conducted by Abacus Data, 42% of would-be EV buyers are willing to wait until Chinese brands go on the market before buying their next car. That doesn't mean they're holding out to solely buy a Chinese EV, but it does mean that they don't want to make any decisions until they're available.
It's easy to see why, as Chinese cars have gained a reputation for being a far better value than mainstream automakers, while offering more technology. Exactly how much will Chinese EVs cost in Canada? We don't know for sure, but it will be higher than the $15,000 or $20,000 price points they sometimes fetch in their home market. Part of Canada's rationale for letting in a quota of Chinese vehicles was to introduce more affordable options to the market.
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