China’s giant Chery Automobile is positioning itself to become the first Chinese automaker to sell passenger EVs in Canada, hiring staff and preparing to open an office as it seeks to capitalize on the country’s new tariff deal with Beijing.
Recruiters working on behalf of Chery have contacted Canadian auto industry professionals on LinkedIn about roles to support the company’s expansion, The Globe and Mail reported Thursday.
The messages indicate Chery is hiring for positions needed to build a Canadian sales operation from scratch, with some specifically mentioning the company’s Omoda and Jaecoo sub-brands.
The move is part of Chery‘s “long-term decision to invest and grow its business in Canada,” according to recruitment messages seen by the local newspaper.
The development comes after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced last week that Canada would allow up to 49,000 Chinese-made EVs into the country annually at a 6.1% tariff rate — down from the 100% levy imposed in 2024.
Chery Targets Record Sales
Chery announced this week a sales target of 3.2 million units for 2026, approximately 14% higher than 2025 and a new peak for the company.
The automaker plans to launch 17 key models this year.
The Wuhu-based company achieved record highs in sales, exports, and new energy vehicles in 2025, selling more than 2.8 million passenger cars.
Over 900,000 of those were new energy vehicles.
Chinese Rivals Stay Silent on Canada Plans
Other major Chinese carmakers have declined to reveal their intentions for Canada at this stage.
Approached by EV, BYD said it could not discuss its plans for the market.
“We sincerely apologize, but we are unable to share specific details on this matter at this time,” the company told EV on Thursday. XPeng declined to comment, while Nio and GAC Group did not respond to requests for comment as of publication time.
Li Auto said it is focused on other regions and made no mention of Canada or the Americas in its expansion plans.
“2025 marks Li Auto’s inaugural year for international expansion,” the Beijing-based company said.
“The company has officially entered four markets — Uzbekistan, Egypt, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan — selling the L6, L7, and L9 models through more than 10 retail and service locations overseas,” a spokesperson told EV.
Li Auto said it plans to deepen its presence in Central Asia in 2026 while expanding into the Middle East and Europe.
Ontario Premier Calls for Boycott
The prospect of Chinese EVs entering Canada has drawn fierce political opposition.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Thursday called for a Canada-wide boycott of Chinese electric vehicles.
Asked whether he was officially urging Canadians to boycott any of the 49,000 Chinese-made EVs permitted under the new deal, Ford replied: “That’s exactly what I’m saying… Boycott the Chinese EV vehicles. Support companies that are building vehicles here, it’s as simple as that. […] We got to stick together.”
Ford, whose province is the heart of Canada’s auto industry, has previously called the incoming vehicles “spy vehicles” and criticized the tariff deal as poorly conceived.
Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union, has also opposed the agreement, saying it “puts Canadian auto jobs at risk.”
Chery Expands Global Footprint
Chery’s interest in Canada comes as the automaker accelerates its global expansion.
Earlier on Friday, Chery South Africa reached an agreement with Nissan Motor to acquire Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Rosslyn, South Africa.
Subject to regulatory approval, Chery plans to take over the plant’s land, buildings, and related assets by mid-2026, including a nearby stamping facility.
Most Nissan employees at the Rosslyn plant will transfer to Chery South Africa with compensation and working conditions largely unchanged, according to the announcement.
Jordi Vila, Nissan’s president for Africa, said external changes had affected capacity utilization at the Rosslyn plant and its long-term prospects within Nissan’s operations.
The deal allows Nissan to protect most employees’ jobs while maintaining existing supply chain operations, he said.
Who Benefits First
Automakers already certified in North America are best positioned to capitalize on the agreement, including Tesla and Geely Automobile Holdings’ controlled Volvo, Lotus and Polestar.
Lotus said the day after the tariff deal was announced that it would cut the price of its Eletre SUV by about 50%.
However, the Chinese giant said the impact of the new deal differs by brand.
A Li Auto spokesperson told EV on Thursday that the company is focused on other regions and made no mention of Canada or the Americas in its expansion plans.
Unlike rivals Nio and XPeng, which quickly set up overseas footprints in Europe, the Beijing-headquartered company opted to focus on its domestic market before expanding internationally.
