Canadians Back Chinese EVs — but Worry About the Fallout

Most Canadians support allowing more Chinese EVs into the market, but many worry about economic retaliation from the United States.

New polling from Léger sheds fresh light on how Canadians view the recent easing of restrictions on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), as well as the potential consequences Canada could face from the United States as a result.

Overall, do you support or oppose the Canadian government’s decision to allow more Chinese electric vehicles into the Canadian market?

A clear majority of Canadians (61%) support the move. Support is strongest in Quebec, where it reaches 72%. By contrast, just 23% of Canadians oppose allowing more Chinese EVs into the domestic market, with opposition highest in the Prairies at 30%.

Perhaps counterintuitively, support is also relatively high in Ontario — Canada’s automotive heartland — where 59% favour allowing more Chinese EVs into the market, while one-quarter of Ontarians oppose the move.