Chinese automaker has vehicles undergoing certification process, expects sales to begin next year

Chinese state-owned automaker Dongfeng Motor Corporation made its Canadian electric vehicle ambitions official last week with a presentation of six of its vehicles in Montreal. 

According to Julie Mazorra Fernández, director of North World Industry, Dongfeng’s national importer in Canada, the first two vehicles to arrive will be priced under $35,000. They are the BOX 01, a subcompact hatchback, and the Vigo, a compact SUV. 

The two EVs are undergoing the regulatory certification process required for sale in Canada, and Mazorra Fernández expects them to be ready by early next year.

‘Very good opportunity’

“We have only two models that we wanted to begin the process because this is a very good opportunity,” she said in an interview with Electric Autonomy Canada. “It’s huge, and we need to be step-by-step.”

“We want to fulfill the government request because it is very important for the market that they have affordable cars.”

In January, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a reduction in tariffs for Chinese EVs to 6.1 per cent from 100 per cent, alongside an annual quota of 49,000 vehicles. The changes took effect in March.

Part of the federal government’s regulations stipulate that by 2030, 50 per cent of those EVs must have a landed price of $35,000 or under.

Dealer network

Having started the certification process two months ago, Dongfeng is still very much in its infancy here. Mazorra Fernández said the company will continue to showcase its six vehicles in events across Canada to gather consumer feedback and help determine which additional models to bring to market. 

The brand has also not yet built out its dealer network, though Mazorra Fernández says that is part of the plan.

“We have received a lot of requests for future dealers,” she said. “At this point, [we haven’t] decided yet, because our priority is to accomplish [certification for] these two models to be ready to introduce to the market. Then closer to the day, we are going to decide how we are going to work.

“We don’t want to have a compromise with other Canadian companies [dealers] or the government because we wanted to be sure that we are ready [with certification], and then we will continue with the process.”

Production a possibility

Mazorra Fernández said Dongfeng is open to the idea of more than just selling EVs here in Canada. Somewhere down the road, she would like to see a technology development and exchange, or even car assembly, take place in the country.

“Our vision in our industry is not only to import cars, it’s also to create more local employment to help the Canadian economy and social development,” she says.

Outside of China, Dongfeng sells its vehicles in more than 100 countries worldwide. It also has a joint venture with Stellantis to build vehicles in Rennes, France.

Between March until July 17, 9,235 Chinese BEVs were imported into Canada. That’s just 37.7 per cent of the six-month quota of 24,500 EVs available through the end of August.