As you may already know, the Canadian government has recently opened the door to the import of 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles without tariffs, a move that has been well received by Canadian consumers.
Stellantis sees this as a golden opportunity, which is why the automaker is reportedly in talks with Leapmotor to produce Chinese electric vehicles directly at its Brampton, Ontario plant. It is worth noting that the facility has been idle since 2024.
That said, don’t expect the Brampton plant to start assembling Chinese vehicles in the coming weeks. For now, the companies are still in preliminary discussions.
It’s important to note that Stellantis owns a stake in Leapmotor—around 20%—which likely explains its interest in helping the brand establish a presence in North America.
As you may have noticed, Stellantis enjoys tremendous popularity with its V8-powered models, unlike its electrified vehicles, which have seen less success. Offering Chinese electric vehicles built locally could help Stellantis strengthen its position in the EV market.
Chinese electric vehicles offer an outstanding price-to-value ratio, making them highly appealing for both consumers and the company. For buyers, this means access to high-end vehicles packed with advanced technology at a very reasonable price. For the manufacturer, assembling these vehicles locally helps reduce import costs.
One of the main challenges surrounding discussions between the automaker and the Chinese manufacturer is political. Stellantis does not want to draw criticism from the Canadian government, and especially from the United States, where anything not designed, built, and assembled domestically is currently frowned upon. However, assembling Chinese vehicles in Canada could help create jobs.
In short, discussions are still ongoing, but it is clear that Chinese electric vehicles could help the Canadian automotive market maintain its momentum in electrification and counter the slowdown seen in recent months.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
