Chinese EVs are coming to Canada. How soon will they be here? How much will they cost?

Buckle up! The electric car market in this country is about to take a sharp turn.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is reopening Canada to EVs made in China, reducing the 100 percent tax on imports, set for 2024, back to six percent.

There is a need for affordable and climate-conscious EVs and, for the average customer, having Chinese EVs on the market means “more choice” and “better technology,” said Max Morris, sales manager at Shift Electric Vehicles in Burlington, Ont.

While some applauded the opening of the EV market, others raised concerns about the safety and security of vehicles from companies tied to the Chinese government. Here’s what you need to know:

How many?

China has shaken up the global EV landscape in recent years, offering more affordable cars, SUVs and other battery-electric and hybrid vehicles.

China has more than 100 EV brands, supported by heavy subsidies, but there are 15 prominent names, including Geely, Chery, MG, Wulin and Tesla of the US. – which makes other models in China.

But BYD became the world’s largest automaker last year and even surpassed Tesla as the world’s top EV seller.

BYD intended to enter the Canadian market until then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau implemented a steep tariff, in line with the same measure in the US under President Joe Biden.

Outside of China, BYD’s biggest market is Brazil, where it accounts for 80 percent of all EV sales. Australia and Mexico are also important buyers of Chinese EVs.

How many come to Canada?

Up to 49,000 EVs a year from China will be allowed into Canada, initially, which Carney said is less than 3 percent of the total vehicle market.

That will increase to about 70,000 within five years.

There were already Chinese EVs in Canada before the 100 percent tariff – exported by Polestar and Volvo, both Swedish companies owned by Geeley, and Tesla.

There seems to be enough demand for cheap Chinese cars in Canada.

An Abacus Data survey, released last year on behalf of the Canadian Energy Centre, suggests that most Canadians want a lower tax that would improve consumer affordability (53 per cent) or no tax at all (29 per cent) on Chinese EVs.

How soon would they arrive?

We don’t have an exact timeline and we don’t know which models might be available.

But the cars can arrive at Canadian ports in weeks, said Addisu Lashitew, an associate professor at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business.

“China’s EV makers can ramp up production and ship faster, and BYD is also using its cargo fleet to reduce transit times,” he said in an email to CBC News.

The hurdle, he says, will be regulatory approvals and other compliance measures.

That’s something the federal government may want to speed up to avoid similar delays in bringing Canadian canola and other products back to the Chinese market with lower duties, he said.

Currently, China will lower prices on March 1

Lashitew says he wouldn’t be surprised if new Chinese EVs arrive in March or April.

WATCH | What Canada gets in exchange:

Tariff-quota deal: CBC’s Andrew Nichols talks with auto consultant Stephen Beatty

The liberal government has reached an agreement with Beijing to allow tens of thousands of Chinese electric vehicles on the domestic market to free up duties on canola products. Get the latest on CBCNews.ca, the CBC News App, and CBC News Network for breaking news and analysis.

Will they be more expensive than other EVs?

It depends on the make and model, but Chinese EVs can cost $10,000 to $15,000 less than those of the same size and range that are already popular in Canada.

One of BYD’s best sellers, the short-wheelbase compact car known as the Seagull and Dolphin Mini, can cost less than $30,000.

That could be attractive to first-time and returning EV buyers, says Morris of Shift Electric Vehicles, which specializes in used models.

“The people who buy these Chinese EVs may already have an EV and want to switch things up,” he said, “Maybe they’re unhappy with their current car or maybe their current car manufacturer.”

That will put more used EVs on the market that are also less expensive, he says.

Lashitew says it will be “obligatory” for other automakers to lower their prices, making EVs more affordable for consumers and ultimately helping Canada move toward its emissions reduction goals.

“Since EVs are still about 30 to 50 percent more expensive than comparable gasoline vehicles, lowering trade barriers will ease affordability,” he said.

Who will sell them?

Currently, there are no brands selling EVs made by Chinese companies.

But with Canada rolling out the welcome mat, those companies could move quickly.

BYD has opened a number of dealerships in Australia since entering the market in mid-2022 – and has sold more than 52,000 vehicles there earlier this year.

How do they compare?

Price is one thing, but consumers also want quality.

In the image above, you can see that the two Chinese brands have exceeded their advertised range compared to their popular Western counterparts when it comes to battery range.

Motortrend 2024 pitted several Chinese brands against the popular Tesla Model 3, also produced in China, comparing the distance they can drive on a fully charged battery.

Some Chinese make the Model 3 jump, although the shop noted that the range depends on factors such as the speed of the driver.

Cold weather shortens battery life and causes charging to take longer, but after testing 67 cars in extreme cold, review site ArenaEV said three Chinese models, including the BYD model, outperformed the similar Tesla Model Y.

Are they safe – and secure?

Safety ratings for Chinese EVs have improved significantly, InsideEVs reports.

Citing rankings from the European New Car Assessment Program, several Chinese EVs were among the safest last year, including the BYD Seal 6, Volvo EX90 and Tesla Model Y.

But when it comes to cybersecurity, Carney is facing questions about allowing Chinese-made cars into Canada after calling China a threat.

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the prime minister over the security issue, as did Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who called China’s EVs “sponsored spy cars.”

Andreas Schotter, a professor of international business at the Ivy Business School in London, Ont., says Carney needs to take that seriously.

“This worries me a lot when it comes to this type of vehicle that relies heavily on artificial intelligence with modern materials and digital data transmission,” he said.

But he says he is “confident” the federal government will deal with the issue “in a complex manner.”