Like in the U.S., Canadian car buyers see a carefully curated group of brands and vehicles on dealers’ lots, thanks to safety regulations, trade relations, and a whole host of other factors. Many have pressed the Canadian government to relax those rules as tariff pressure builds, and now, an EV advocacy group has joined the fight.
Daniel Breton, head of Electric Mobility Canada, said, “Right now, Transport Canada is saying, well, we have to change the bumpers and we have to change the headlights and this and that for safety reasons, which, as far as I’m concerned, is total B.S.” He continued to say that, “If the car is good enough to be driving on European roads, where you can drive much faster than here, don’t come and tell me that they’re not safe enough to be driven in Canada.”
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Groups in Canada are looking for ways to keep more affordable vehicles flowing into the country as its trade relations with the U.S. have soured over tariffs and other actions. Breton and others feel that allowing vehicles from Europe, China, and elsewhere would strengthen trade relations and help more Canadians afford new cars.
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That said, our northern neighbors tend to buy larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs, similar to their American counterparts, making it riskier for automakers to invest in smaller new models for the country. Small vehicle sales in Canada are far below those of SUVs and trucks, but Breton said there is a place for the vehicles in the market.
Breton wants the Canadian government to reconsider its 100 percent tariff on Chinese imports, and the public seems to be behind him. A recent poll showed that 70 percent of Canadians are in favor of allowing EVs approved for European roads into the country, and 5 percent said they’d like to see the 100 percent tariff dropped to the 35 percent level European countries impose.