Geely Auto Group has officially announced its entry into the Canadian market. The company is establishing an executive team, has ramped up an official Canadian website (Geely.ca), and laid out plans to launch its first vehicles here in 2027.
Led by newly appointed Canadian Managing Director Bryan Wu, the Chinese automotive titan is actively laying the groundwork for a national retail and service network.
This is a move widely anticipated since the Canadian government entered into an agreement with China whereby its previous 100-percent surtax on Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles with a 6.1% tariff rate. That reduced rate has been applied initially with a quota of 49,000 units per year, but that will increase in the coming years.
Canada not exactly virgin territory
While Geely is a new automotive brand for Canadian consumers, parent company Zhejiang Geely Holding Group is far from a stranger to our market. Geely has maintained a Canadian presence since 2010 when it acquired Volvo Cars from Ford Motor Company, later expanding its local portfolio with Polestar and Lotus.
Ranked as China’s third-largest automaker behind BYD and Chery Group, Geely experienced rapid growth in 2025. Global deliveries reached 3 million vehicles across more than 100 countries last year, which represented a 39-percent year-over-year surge. Electrified vehicles accounted for nearly 1.69 million of those sales, representing a 90-percent jump compared to 2024.
Traditional dealership network strategy
Rather than adopting a direct-to-consumer digital sales model or popup boutiques, Geely confirmed it will establish traditional brick-and-mortar sales and service operations in Canada. The company is partnering with established dealer groups across the country in the hopes of building long-term consumer trust and ensuring comprehensive service support.
“Canada represents an important step in Geely's international growth. We approach this market with a long-term vision... We know that trust is earned over time, and we are determined to earn it in this market.”
- Geely’s Canadian Managing Director Bryan Wu
What models might Geely bring to Canada?
Geely has yet to share any details regarding which models it plans to bring in to Canada and what price points might be attached to them. That said, heavily camouflaged prototypes of the EX5 compact crossover and EX2 hatchback have already been spotted undergoing road testing in Canada.
The current betting money has the electric EX5 five-passenger crossover leading the brand's entry. In overseas markets like Australia, the EX5 features a single electric motor producing 215 hp. Range is given as 475 km under WLTP testing, which should yield a real-world Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) rating closer to 400 km.
Because Canada's tariff quota rules also encompass hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, Geely could also introduce PHEV utility models like the Monjaro EM-i midsize SUV to appeal to cold-weather buyers looking for extended range.
Market positioning
While pricing details remain unannounced, Geely is expected to undercut established mainstream EV rivals in Canada rather than matching domestic Chinese pricing, where local subsidies lower retail costs. That the EX5 starts at roughly $42,000 AUD in Australia suggests a competitive Canadian price point somewhere under the $40,000 CAD mark.
Of course, Geely isn’t alone in plotting an invasion of the Canadian market. BYD, Chery (via its Omoda and Jaecoo brands) and Dongfeng are also actively working on plans to set up shop here, which should make for an increasingly competitive landscape for affordable EVs in Canada over the next two years.