PoliticsMore than 2,910 Chinese-made electric passenger vehicles arrived in Canada during the month of May under the reduced tariff deal announced earlier this year.Nearly 3,000 Chinese-manufactured EVs landed in the country last monthDavid Thurton · CBC News · Posted: Jun 01, 2026 2:34 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Prime Minister Mark Carney said last month that 'it looks like' most of the models arriving in Canada will be Teslas. (David Zalubowski/The Associated Press)More than 2,900 Chinese-made electric passenger vehicles arrived in Canada during the month of May.Data from Global Affairs Canada indicates that May was the first month of EV imports from China after Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to let in tens of thousands of the vehicles under a reduced tariff rate during a trip to the country in January.It states 2,910 cars arrived in May and more are on the way but it doesn't indicate which brands or models are arriving. Carney did say at the Economic Club of New York last week that "it looks like" most of the models will be Teslas made in China.Ottawa reached a tariff-quota deal with China on EVs in exchange for Beijing dropping some duties on Canadian canola.Canada reaches tariff-quota deal with China on EVs, canolaHow China is charging forward with EV adoption as Canada prepares to welcome its carsCanada imposed a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles in 2024, but now allows up to 49,000 Chinese EVs into Canada annually at a 6.1 per cent tariff. Canada is also imposing a maximum six-month quota of 24,500 cars.Together with the return of the federal EV rebates and higher gas prices fuelled by the war in Iran, Electric Mobility Canada says more drivers are considering going electric. "It is pretty obvious that competition is starting to have an impact, which is good for the consumer," said Daniel Breton, president and CEO of Electric Mobility Canada, a lobby group that promotes electric vehicles. He expects more Chinese-made EVs arriving in Canada to put downward pressure on prices. Breton said he has already seen the price of vehicles like Chevy Bolt fall. WATCH | How China became the world's EV leader:China’s EV success formula — and Canada’s dilemmaMarch 31|Duration 8:00Canada has cracked open the door to Chinese-made electric vehicles and the impact could be transformational. For The National, CBC’s Chris Brown breaks down how China became the world’s EV leader and what it could mean for the North American automotive industry. Canada's big three automakers in a statement said the entry of these EVs "undermines" the domestic auto industry and opens Canadians up to "cyber risks.""China does not adhere to many of the rules-based trade and investment principles that have been fundamental to the success of the auto industry and the Canadian economy," said Brian Kingston, president and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association. ABOUT THE AUTHORDavid Thurton is a senior reporter in CBC's Parliamentary Bureau. He covers daily politics in the nation’s capital and specializes in environment and energy policy. Born in Canada but raised in Trinidad and Tobago, he’s moved around more times than he can count. He’s worked for CBC in several provinces and territories, including Alberta and the Northwest Territories. He can be reached at david.thurton@cbc.caLatest from David ThurtonLinkedInWith files from The Canadian Press