Yes, July and August are vacation months. What could be better than the beach, sunshine, travel, and, above all, discovering new countries where Dongfeng, BYD, Chery (Omoda Jaecoo), Zeekr, NIO, XPeng, and many other brands are already on the road?
Chinese Vehicles Are Preparing to Enter the Quebec Market
Although my vacation is over now, I made the most of it. I took the opportunity (it’s one of my passions!) to explore several vehicles that are expected to arrive in Quebec next year… well, not before 2027. Before these vehicles can be sold and driven on our roads, manufacturers must first complete the Canadian certification process.
Some brands are investing heavily in promotional campaigns, while others already enjoy a strong reputation. Regardless, all newcomers will have to meet Canadian regulatory requirements. This is nothing new, however—Volvo, Polestar (Geely), and Tesla have already been on our roads for several years.
The Part That Interests Us: Service and Repairs
In my opinion, the first manufacturers to establish themselves here will adopt a different strategy. In addition to dealerships located in major urban centres, they will rely on affiliated repair facilities across Canada. These service centres will have a competitive advantage thanks to their technology and expertise, particularly the skills developed through the EV Competency Program.
The sales model will remain dealership-based or, in some cases, based on retail locations in shopping centres, but the maintenance and repair network will need to evolve.
To earn consumers’ trust, manufacturers will need to partner with repair facilities that offer strong technical support, outstanding customer service, and reliable access to parts. If you start seeing Chinese vehicles being serviced in local repair shops by 2027, it will be great news for owners, who will be able to have their vehicles maintained and repaired under warranty close to home.
Quality That May Surprise You
When it comes to product quality, we’ve already seen first Japanese and later Korean manufacturers prove themselves. Now it’s the Chinese manufacturers’ turn. Believe me, the quality appears to be there, along with an impressive technological edge considering the price.
Until next time, enjoy the rest of your summer!
Yves Racette, Director – Training UAP, NAPA / NexDrive Program Development, Emerging Technology
Pictures and text credit : Yves Racette
