The Xiaomi YU7 SUV is seen during a launch event in Beijing on May 22, 2025 Photo by Adek Berry /Getty

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There’s been no shortage of digital ink spilled about the spectre of Chinese EVs being imported into Canada, done via a quota system which allows 49,000 vehicles into this country at a reduced tariff rate over a 12-month period which started in March.

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Once the clock hit six months from that date, which is to say the end of August, government types have promised to reevaluate the current first-come-first-served method of doling out import certificates and, perhaps, move to a system in which specific companies are given import allocations. A total of 24,500 vehicles are allowed into our country under the current rules from the beginning of March through to the end of August.

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The 2026 Zeekr 7X is a five-passenger SUV currently on sale in China and select European countries. Photo by Andrew McCredie

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Data released by Global Affairs late on Friday show a total of 2,400 electric vehicles appeared in Canada from China, bringing the total imported since the program started to 12,513 vehicles. This leaves 11,987 units remaining in the initial six-month quota of 24,500 machines. Any unused quota rolls over and can get tacked on the next six-month quota, which is also 24,500 EVs.

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Of the 2,400 cars reported to have been brought in from the People’s Republic last week, 520 of them were classified as “=<35000” — a sum which our own David Booth correctly identified as an imported number and not necessarily an MSRP which will be shown to a customer. Indeed, a quick click to the government’s own site shows the $35,000 figure to be a free-on-board (FOB) price. Interestingly, the split between vehicles over and under that figure is about 50/50 so far this year.

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Basic math tells us that, at a rate of 2,400 cars a week, there could be a total of 9,600 vehicles brought into the country from China this month, a sum exceeding any other month so far this year. If that number comes to fruition, it still won’t exceed the cumulative 24,500 quota; any unused portion of the quota simply goes tacked on when the clock resets in September. 

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Data doesn’t exist (yet) about which brands have been hoovering up the import quota, though logic dictates Tesla is likely taking the lion’s share by bringing its Model 3 into Canada from the factory in Shanghai. Polestar is also in the mix, as is Lotus. As for new-to-Canada brands (BYD, Geely, Dongfeng, Zeekr, et al) rumours are rife in the industry about feverish discussions with existing dealer groups to set up distribution channels, though there have been no grand openings or ribbon cuttings quite yet. Dongfeng held its own event in Montreal last month, showcasing numerous examples of its wares including the two models it hopes to bring to Canada.

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Interestingly, a data clarification shows 259 vehicles in July were classified as “No plug hyb autos, spark-ignition piston engine SUV/pass vn >35,000” — suggesting a few gasoline-powered traditional hybrid crossovers worked their way across the Pacific, in addition to 5,723 all-electric vehicles. And, as our managing editor rightly pointed out, last week’s appearance of 2,400 rigs could very well simply be the cargo capacity of a certain shipping vessel or portion thereof. After all, we’ve seen this number before.

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