Toronto, Ontario -- The majority of Canadians are eager for more Chinese electric vehicles to enter the domestic market, a new survey from Abacus Data and Clean Energy Canada has found.
Since October 1, the Federal Government has imposed a 100 percent surtax on all EVs manufactured in China. The policy is meant to counter unfair, state-subsidized practices used to bolster the competitiveness of China's manufacturers.
The Canadian government’s position aligns with that of the U.S. and is more severe than the European Union, which is imposing tariffs of between 17.4 percent and 38.1 percent beginning next month.
According to the survey, this policy has rubbed the majority of Canadians the wrong way. Only one-in-five (19 percent) respondents to Abacus's survey said they were in favour of the tariffs. A narrow majority (53 percent) hoped Canada could adopt a less severe approach more similar to the one used by the EU. The remaining group expressed a desire for an end to any tariffs on Chinese EVs.
The survey also found the majority of Canadians were in favour of the government taking other steps to improve access to EVs. Seventy percent of respondents favour allowing any EV certified under European safety and environmental standards to be sold in Canada.
It also found about 55 percent of Canadians say they are likely to choose an EV as their next vehicle.
