Poll: Large majority of Canadians favour more open car market with better access to affordable Chinese and European EVs - Clean Energy Canada

A recent survey by Abacus Data for Clean Energy Canada reveals strong Canadian support for a more open vehicle market with greater access to affordable electric vehicles (EVs), particularly from Chinese and European manufacturers. While 53% of Canadians favor lowering the current 100% tariff on Chinese EVs to balance industry protection and affordability, 29% support removing the tariff entirely to reduce costs and avoid trade retaliation. Only 19% want to maintain the full tariff. This consensus spans political affiliations, indicating broad cross-partisan agreement. Additionally, 70% of respondents back allowing the sale of any vehicle meeting European safety and environmental standards, which would increase the availability of smaller, more affordable EV models in Canada. The survey also highlights that 58% of Canadians want to uphold Canada’s current tailpipe emission standards, aligning with stricter U.S. regulations under President Biden and California’s policies, while only 18% support weakening these standards. Interest in purchasing EVs as the next vehicle has decreased by 13 points since 2022, with 45% expressing certainty or likelihood to buy one. However, enthusiasm remains higher among younger Canadians, residents of Quebec and British Columbia, and urban populations in regions like Metro Vancouver (69% favor EVs) and the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (55-62% favor EVs depending on information provided). Clean Energy Canada emphasizes that the main barrier to EV adoption is high sticker prices, and Canadians want access to high-quality, lower-cost electric cars from global markets.