Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD is looking to enter the Canadian auto market, according to regulatory filings earlier this month. The move comes even as Canadian officials consider imposing tariffs on vehicles imported from China.
Canada, following the United States and the European Union, said in June it was considering imposing tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, an effort to align itself with its allies against what the West sees as a heavily subsidized Chinese industry.
Canada opened a month-long public consultation period on July 2 to consider its response. It noted: “China’s unfair support for the EV sector, if left unchecked, could lead to an exponential surge in imports that would have a detrimental impact on Canada’s EV investment plans and the transformation of the automotive sector.”
It was not immediately clear when representatives of the company's Canadian unit, BYD Canada, would meet with government officials.
While it does not provide a timeline for BYD's plans, the document discusses potential tariffs on electric vehicles, along with the Shenzhen-based company's plans to begin selling electric passenger vehicles in Canada.
Meanwhile, in May, BYD launched the Shark, a mid-size hybrid-electric pickup truck in Mexico. The launch came as its regional chief pushed back against new U.S. tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, arguing that the company was not targeting the U.S. market. (ns/uh)
