Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. plans to launch in Canada next year, positioning it be the first Chinese mass market electric vehicle maker to establish a presence in the North American market. The carmaker has begun setting up a retail and service network in the country ahead of the 2027 start, according to a company statement Friday. Geely, which owns premium EV brands including Zeekr and Lynk & Co as well as more affordable offerings, didn’t specify a start date for sales or which models would be available. The move marks a significant step after Ottawa and Beijing reached an agreement in January to allow a limited number of Chinese EV exports to Canada. As trade disputes deepen with the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration is looking to forge new alliances, including by allowing Chinese automakers in and hoping to attract investments from them. Chinese carmakers are expanding aggressively to markets around the world, with the notable exception of the U.S., which has steep tariffs and restrictions on connected vehicles in place that essentially ban Chinese vehicles from America. Bloomberg reported earlier this year that Geely was laying the groundwork for entry into Canada. Chinese rivals BYD Co. and Chery Automobile Co. are also wooing dealers and setting up distribution. Bryan Wu, managing director of Geely Auto Canada, said in the statement that the automaker was making a “long-term commitment” to the country. “Canada represents an important next step in Geely Auto’s international growth.” Federal government expects Chinese EVs to arrive in larger numbers soonBYD asked about taking over Canadian Stellantis plant, mayor says With weak domestic demand, there’s even more incentive for Chinese manufacturers including Geely to expand overseas to offset contracting sales at home. Geely Auto’s domestic sales in the first nine months of this year fell 23 per cent to 1.4 million vehicles while exports surged 169 per cent to 798,000, according to a note by brokerage UOB Kay Hian. Bloomberg.com
China’s Geely Automobile to enter Canadian EV market next year
