Special Episode - Unpacking 🇨🇦's Course Change on 🇨🇳 EV Inc
Canada just cracked the door open to Chinese electric vehicles — and the implications could reshape North American auto manufacturing, trade policy, and geopolitics.
In this special episode of At The Wheel, hosts Joe White and Tu Le are joined by David Kennedy, Toronto Bureau Chief of Automotive News, to break down Canada’s surprise trade détente with China.
At the center of the discussion: Canada’s agreement to allow up to 49,000 Chinese-built EVs per year to enter the country at standard tariffs — a symbolic but strategically explosive move following escalating trade tensions with the U.S. and uncertainty around the future of USMCA.
The trio unpack:
• Why Prime Minister Mark Carney’s move signals a major reset in Canada–China relations
• How U.S. tariffs, uncertainty on further US investments into Canadian factories, and political rhetoric are pushing Canada to diversify away from American automakers
• Why Chinese OEMs like BYD, Geely, and even Tesla are best positioned to benefit
• Whether Canada becomes a “triple-A test market” for Chinese EV brands entering North America
• The unresolved national-security debate around connected-vehicle software, data localization, and Chinese technology
• What this all means for Canadian consumers facing rising vehicle prices and shrinking EV incentives
This episode goes beyond headlines — connecting trade policy, factory decisions, consumer sentiment, and global power shifts into one cohesive story. If you care about the future of EVs, geopolitics, or how China is reshaping the auto industry, this is a must-listen.
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00:00 – Welcome & episode setup
01:15 – Who is David Kennedy & why this deal matters
02:15 – Canada–China relations & the Huawei turning point
03:40 – Why EV tariffs became a political wedge in Canada
04:45 – U.S. pressure, Trump tariffs & plant uncertainty
05:30 – Stellantis Brampton & GM Oshawa fallout
07:15 – Canadian auto market size & U.S. OEM exposure
09:40 – What this means for future USMCA negotiations
11:05 – Canada’s goal: Chinese tech & manufacturing investment
12:30 – Brownfield plants & JV opportunities (Magna, Stellantis)
15:10 – Chinese tech bans & U.S. connected-vehicle policy
18:45 – Data security, privacy & China hawks in Canada
20:15 – Tesla, Volvo, Polestar & who fills the 49k quota
22:45 – BYD’s prior Canada plans & dealer interest
25:30 – Canada as a testbed for Chinese OEMs
27:00 – EV affordability & Canadian consumer sentiment
29:45 – Why U.S. brands may be losing Canadian goodwill
31:45 – Tesla’s Canada struggles & product stagnation
33:15 – Battery, component & manufacturing upside for China
35:45 – Is USMCA leverage part of Carney’s strategy?
38:00 – Will China force the U.S., Canada & Mexico to compete?
41:15 – Final thoughts: risks for Detroit & what comes next
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