Geely will begin shipping the first Lotus electric vehicles to Canada in July as part of an agreement between Carney and Xi.
Lotus, owned by Geely, will become the first Chinese electric car brand to enter the Canadian market under a new agreement allowing up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles to be imported annually at a reduced customs rate, Reuters reports.
Chinese Ambassador to Canada Wang Di said that the Lotus cars will arrive next month, and their handover ceremony is scheduled in Montreal. The move is the result of Prime Minister Mark Carney's efforts to diversify Canadian trade beyond the United States and deepen economic ties with China.
Other Chinese brands, notably Chery and BYD, are still finalizing procedures before entering the Canadian market; larger shipments are expected to begin in the fall, with BYD likely to begin sales next year. Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are also interested in setting up joint ventures in Canada, but they will first test demand through sales.