![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cleanenergycanada.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3-1024x496.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHalf of adults (50%) under age 30 are open to purchasing a Chinese EV, though interest declines with age, with 28% of respondents over 60 saying they would consider one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regionally, openness to Chinese EVs ranges from 45% in Quebec to 24% in Alberta, consistent with interest in EVs generally.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cleanenergycanada.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-1024x502.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nMeanwhile, half of Canadians (51%) also have a positive or neutral view of the cars, with 18% believing Chinese EVs are likely superior to the ones sold in Canada today and another 32% suspecting they are of a similar quality. Just one in five (21%) think they are likely inferior cars, while 28% remain uncertain.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cleanenergycanada.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-1-1024x499.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nPerhaps unsurprisingly, views diverge greatly between those open to buying an EV and those uninterested in the technology: 71% of would-be EV buyers believe they are likely good cars compared to just 32% of non-EV buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cleanenergycanada.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-2-1024x499.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nQUOTE<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\u201cCanadians are paying attention to what\u2019s happening around the world. They\u2019re reading stories about the popularity and performance of Chinese EVs, and they know that Canada\u2019s EV market has fallen behind. But more than anything, Canadians want an EV they can afford upfront. High levels of interest in Chinese EVs likely represents just that: a desire for vehicles that are affordable today, as many cash-strapped Canadians simply can\u2019t wait five years to break even on a car that eventually saves them money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhile Canada\u2019s limited quota could mean more willing buyers than cars available, the federal government can leverage the China deal with complementary measures aimed at bringing in more affordable EVs from other carmakers, such as by aligning our car safety standards with Europe, reintroducing purchase incentives, and maintaining regulations that compel automakers to meet the market with affordable EVs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014Trevor Melanson, director of insights and communications, Clean Energy Canada<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe survey was conducted with 2,498 Canadians from January 22 to 27, 2026. A random sample of panelists were invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source. The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +\/- 1.96%, 19 times out of 20. The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada\u2019s population according to age, gender, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.<\/em><\/p>\n
The survey was conducted with 2,498 Canadians from January 22 to 27, 2026. A random sample of panelists were invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt-in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source. The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of the same size is +\/- 1.96%, 19 times out of 20. The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada\u2019s population according to age, gender, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.<\/em><\/p>\n