Chinese language electrical automobiles are coming to Canada, if solely a restricted quota of them, they usually could possibly be met with a flurry of prepared patrons, in response to a brand new survey from Abacus Knowledge and Clear Vitality Canada.
A couple of-third (35%) of Canadians are open to purchasing a Chinese language EV. And among the many 50% of Canadians who’re open to purchasing an EV usually, 70% specific various ranges of curiosity in getting a Chinese language one.
Half of adults (50%) below age 30 are open to buying a Chinese language EV, although curiosity declines with age, with 28% of respondents over 60 saying they’d take into account one.
Regionally, openness to Chinese language EVs ranges from 45% in Quebec to 24% in Alberta, in step with curiosity in EVs usually.
In the meantime, half of Canadians (51%) even have a optimistic or impartial view of the vehicles, with 18% believing Chinese language EVs are doubtless superior to those bought in Canada as we speak and one other 32% suspecting they’re of the same high quality. Only one in 5 (21%) suppose they’re doubtless inferior vehicles, whereas 28% stay unsure.
Maybe unsurprisingly, views diverge significantly between these open to purchasing an EV and people uninterested within the know-how: 71% of would-be EV patrons imagine they’re doubtless good vehicles in comparison with simply 32% of non-EV patrons.
QUOTE
“Canadians are being attentive to what’s taking place around the globe. They’re studying tales concerning the recognition and efficiency of Chinese language EVs, they usually know that Canada’s EV market has fallen behind. However greater than something, Canadians need an EV they’ll afford upfront. Excessive ranges of curiosity in Chinese language EVs doubtless represents simply that: a want for automobiles which might be reasonably priced as we speak, as many cash-strapped Canadians merely can’t wait 5 years to interrupt even on a automobile that ultimately saves them cash.
“Whereas Canada’s restricted quota may imply extra prepared patrons than vehicles accessible, the federal authorities can leverage the China take care of complementary measures geared toward bringing in additional reasonably priced EVs from different carmakers, corresponding to by aligning our automobile security requirements with Europe, reintroducing buy incentives, and sustaining rules that compel automakers to satisfy the market with reasonably priced EVs.”
—Trevor Melanson, director of insights and communications, Clear Vitality Canada
The survey was carried out with 2,498 Canadians from January 22 to 27, 2026. A random pattern of panelists had been invited to finish the survey from a set of companion panels primarily based on the Lucid change platform. These companions are usually double opt-in survey panels, blended to handle out potential skews within the information from a single supply. The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random pattern of the identical dimension is +/- 1.96%, 19 occasions out of 20. The information had been weighted in response to census information to make sure that the pattern matched Canada’s inhabitants in response to age, gender, and area. Totals might not add as much as 100 as a consequence of rounding.
