Canadians shop Chinese cars: New Survey Results
A new study says Canadians shop Chinese cars more openly than many expected. Clarify Group and Universus Media Group surveyed 2,007 people who bought or leased a new vehicle in the last five years. The result is clear. Interest is real. Knowledge is still low.
By the end of August 2026, Canada had imported 15,603 Chinese electric vehicles under the reduced-tariff quota. The cap for that period was 24,500, so the full quota was not used. Tariffs on those EVs dropped from 100% to 6.1%.
What the survey says
Sixty-three percent support letting Chinese brands into Canada. Thirty-eight percent would consider a Chinese brand for their next vehicle. The main reason is price. Seventy-two percent of interested buyers want more affordable cars. Eighty-four percent see a car as basic transportation, not a status item.
Brand awareness is weak. Forty-eight percent could not name a single Chinese nameplate. Among those who could, BYD was the only brand with real recognition.
Buyers also want a local dealer. Of those keen to test-drive a Chinese EV, 77% want to do it at a nearby store. Among people considering a Chinese EV, 88% say their franchise dealer will matter in the final choice.
Who is most interested
Interest is not even across Canada. British Columbia leads at 49%. Ontario sits at 39%. Quebec, which sells about half of Canada’s EVs, is near the bottom at 33%. Atlantic Canada is lowest at 31%.
Age matters more than province. Sixty-four percent of buyers aged 25 to 34 would consider a Chinese EV. That falls to 27% among people 65 and older.
The price catch
Many shoppers expect a bargain. Global Affairs Canada says about half of the imported Chinese EVs so far had a landed cost under $35,000. Landed cost is not the sticker price. It is roughly the cost to build and ship the car.
In the U.K., Australia, and Europe, Chinese brands often add a large markup after the vehicle arrives. Canada also has tight quotas. Therefore, the first wave may not be as cheap as headlines suggest.
The survey’s least realistic hope is monthly payments. Seventy percent want a payment under $600. Many want less than $400. That helps explain another finding: 47% are open to a used car, electric or not.
Reliability, safety, and service remain open questions for buyers. The data does not prove those fears. It only shows Canadians are curious, price-focused, and still short on brand knowledge.
Canadians shop Chinese cars in theory. In practice, dealerships, parts, winter range, and final pricing will decide the sale. For more market coverage, see NextEV and our affordable EV guide.
