Yommie
Elite Member
Geely announced that it will sell cars in Canada under its namesake brand starting in 2027. There's no word on specific models.
When Canada reduced its 100% tariff on imported EVs from China down to a mere 6.1% for the first 49,000 units, we knew that Chinese brands would be champing at the bit to enter that market. China's biggest car company, BYD, has confirmed it's on its way. And today the Geely Group announced plans to sell cars in Canada under its namesake brand.
Geely said it has been building a retail and service network and will start selling its first cars to Canadians in 2027. There’s now an official website, Geely.ca, but otherwise the brand hasn’t said too much about what’s next.
If you’ve been paying attention to the online chatter around Chinese cars entering Canada, this might not be all that surprising. Geely’s higher-dollar sister brands, Zeekr and Lynk & Co, have had job listings in Canada for months now. Plus, lightly disguised versions of the Geely EX5 and EX2 were spotted rolling around Canada shortly after Prime Minister Carney announced the country’s deal with China.
That doesn't necessarily mean those two vehicles will come to Canada—Geely hasn't announced a lineup—but they would make sense. Part of Canada’s thinking behind letting in Chinese EVs is to get drivers behind the wheel of affordable vehicles. The EX2 and EX5 are some of Geely’s cheapest EVs, costing anywhere from about $20,000 for the EX2 to roughly $35,000 for the EX5 in markets outside of China.
I’ve had seat time with both the EX2 and EX5; both are strong options in the budget EV space. The EX2 is a four-door subcompact car that is currently China’s best-selling car, and for good reason. It feels well finished and spacious for such a small and cheap car. I could see it doing well in Canada, a market that tends to gravitate toward smaller and cheaper cars compared to its neighbors to the south.
Several Chinese manufacturers are eyeing Canadian expansion. Chery has said it will bring its Jaecoo and Omoda brands to the country this year. Dongfeng said it was certifying two models for the Canadian market and that its entry could happen as soon as next year.
