BYD's Move to Enter Canadian Market Amid US Tariffs on Chinese EVs

TapTechNews July 31, the Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is preparing to enter the Canadian market. According to AutomotiveNews, BYD has recently hired lobbyists to provide advice on entering the Canadian market to sell passenger electric vehicles, establish new businesses, and deal with possible electric vehicle tariffs. In addition, BYD has begun to approach Canadian auto dealers to prepare for the establishment of sales channels.

TapTechNews noted that in order to deal with the rapid rise of the Chinese electric vehicle industry, the US government has recently taken measures to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese imported electric vehicles and has taken other measures to encourage the localization and friend-shoring of electric vehicle-related manufacturing. Canada is also considering following the example of the US and the EU to impose similar tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Because it is impossible to directly enter the US market, Chinese electric vehicle enterprises may seek to detour into one of the largest automotive markets in the world. Some automotive industry analysts said that this may mean establishing businesses in Mexico and Canada.

It is worth noting that BYD has already had a layout in the North American market. It has a factory in California, the US, to produce electric buses and trucks. And in Mexico, BYD sells passenger cars including the plug-in hybrid pickup Shark. However, the president of BYD North America said earlier this year that the company currently has no plans to enter the US passenger car market.