Chery Automobile Co. brought nearly two dozen representatives of Canadian dealerships to the Beijing auto show this week as it works to establish a sales network in Canada, according to the company’s chairman.
The Chinese automaker is one of several with plans to enter the Canadian market after Beijing and Ottawa struck a deal in January allowing imports of 49,000 electric vehicles annually from China. Chery hopes to tap into demand for its EVs and plug-in hybrids from buyers in Canada in the wake of soaring gasoline prices due to the U.S.-Iran war, Chairman Yin Tongyue said in an interview Friday.
“Canada is relatively open,” he said. “Some potential partners really want us to enter the market.”
Delegation of Dealers
The delegation of dealers from Canada, who Chery said were among some 5,000 guests it invited to the annual event, are also expected to visit the carmaker’s headquarters in Wuhu, Anhui province.
Yin said Chery expects exports of so-called new energy vehicles, such as electric cars and plug-in hybrids, to double this year and make up more than half of the company’s total shipments abroad. That would mark the first time Chery’s exports of electrified models outpace those of gasoline-powered vehicles, according to the company.
Export Growth and Challenges
Chery, China’s largest car exporter, exported some 1.34 million vehicles to overseas markets in 2025. The surge in exports from China has prompted backlash from some countries such as Mexico, which has introduced a 50 per cent tariff on Chinese-made goods, including cars. This poses a growth challenge for Chery, which Yin views as one of the company’s most promising markets.
“The Mexico market is now difficult for us due to the tariffs,” he said.
Chery is considering other strategies to retain its market share in the country, including possibly buying existing production facilities, building new ones or tie-ups with local partners.
“We’re looking at several options — either brownfield, greenfield or joint ventures,” Yin said.
