Key facts
- Lotus electric vehicles from China's Geely will begin arriving in Canada in July.
- The shipments are part of an agreement allowing up to 49,000 EVs annually at reduced tariffs.
- Lotus is exploring U.S. production for its new plug-in hybrid SUV.
- Tariffs have impacted sales of Lotus's Chinese-made electric vehicles.
- Tariffs have contributed to a drop in Lotus's global deliveries.
- China's ambassador to Canada, Wang Di, made the announcement regarding Canadian shipments.
- Lotus is a British sportscar maker.
Geely Holding Group's Lotus brand will commence shipping electric vehicles to Canada in July, according to an announcement by China's ambassador to Canada, Wang Di. This marks the initial sale of Chinese-owned and manufactured vehicles under a bilateral agreement that allows for the import of up to 49,000 electric vehicles annually at reduced tariff rates. The agreement is seen as a significant development in automotive trade between the two nations.
In parallel, Lotus, the British sportscar manufacturer, is evaluating the feasibility of producing its new plug-in hybrid SUV within the United States. This potential shift in manufacturing strategy is a direct response to tariff-related challenges that have affected the sales performance of its electric vehicles manufactured in China. These tariff concerns have been cited as a contributing factor to a notable decline in Lotus's overall global vehicle deliveries.