Canada’s government is working to land a Chinese-Canadian auto plant that will export electric vehicles globally, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said.

Canadian auto parts firms such as Magna International Inc., Linamar Corp. and Martinrea International Inc. could participate in a joint-venture assembly plant in Canada with Chinese EV companies.

“We believe that these great Canadian champions can partner with Chinese EV companies to make a Canadian-Chinese car to export it around the world,” Joly said in an interview with Bloomberg News on Friday.

“We can find a way to have software in the car that will address the security concerns,” she said. “We think we’re able to have labor standards that are in conformity with what we accept and expect in Canada, and that there can be local supply chains in Canada that are created out of these investments

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[–] DarylInCanada@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 hours ago

Toyota and Honda represented 76.5% of Canada’s vehicle production (1,226,099) in 2025 and each of Toyota and Honda produced more vehicles in Canada than Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis combined. GAC members had a 60.5% market share of all light-duty vehicles sold in Canada in 2025.

https://globalautomakers.ca/#%3A%7E%3Atext=Toyota+and+Honda+represented+76.5%2Csold+in+Canada+in+2025.

So pretty soon it will be an East Asian/Japanese car of some make and model made in Canada. The Chinese might just as well join the fray. Those lamenting the demise of Canadian jobs on assembly lines of American cars are several decades too late. The Canadian jobs are now predominantly on non-American model production lines anyway.

[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 7 points 15 hours ago

Do it. Gripen Factory and Chinese EV factory. New world order. Take the leap.

[–] betanumerus@lemmy.ca 2 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

EVs for sure. And Chinese only because western companies refused to build EVs.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 2 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

only because western companies refused to build EVs.

Ford, GM, Stellantis all built EVs no one bought. Because today's modern online super hippies are full of shit just like the 60s versions.

2026 Chevy Equinox. $36-45K.

They won't build in Canada because Biden invested billions in US battery production, while Doug Ford invested billions in a Spa and a grant for his dentist.

[–] betanumerus@lemmy.ca 2 points 11 hours ago

Because Ford, GM, Stellantis kept promoting their ICEs more than their EVs.

[–] SamuelRJankis@sh.itjust.works 12 points 23 hours ago

Seems like a win-win-win if this works out. A Canadian company would get some much needed business, most of the world probably feel better with that software arrangement and China could at least plausibily say they're not doing any bad things on the front.

Open source would still be the best but that's another whole ass can of worms.

Joly said there are “active conversations” on how domestic firms might complement new Chinese investment into Canada’s auto sector, including with software developer QNX, which is headquartered in Ottawa and owned by BlackBerry Ltd. On a recent trip to China, Joly met with Chinese auto firms BYD Co. Ltd., the world’s largest producer of EVs, and Chery Automobile Co.

[–] ZombieCyborgFromOuterSpace@piefed.ca 18 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's huge.

This could set up the stage for us to become an EV champion on the global stage. And also develop the manufactures and know-how to build them should the deal break eventually.

[–] balootgaloot@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 day ago

We have the workforce, the raw materials and the general support infrastructure. Let's get to work.

[–] Smaile@lemmy.ca -2 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (3 children)

They're just going to be staffed by Chinese, the CCP do this consistently so I don't understand the comment on here getting hopefully they won't do it again...

[–] DarylInCanada@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 hours ago

They will still be operating under Canadian labor laws.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 3 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (1 children)

They’re just going to be staffed by Chinese

BYD in NewMarket is not staffed by Chinese. Nor is BYD in Lancaster, CA.

[–] Smaile@lemmy.ca 0 points 11 hours ago

No? Hmm maybe we were able to get our workers doing the work then..

[–] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 3 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

That's obviously not what the Canadian negotiators will want.

A major point of manufacturing here is to have jobs for the local population. (And, yes, another major point is to have supply to that manufacturing also come from our economy).

[–] Smaile@lemmy.ca 0 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Doesn't matter if it's what you want if that was part of negotiation. We stop fighting with china and we get to sell our agricultural and raw resorces to the world's factory while they get to push their EV dependencey on to the world's poor.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 3 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

while they get to push their EV dependencey on to the world’s poor.

US automakers made it very clear they have no interest in selling low cost cars any more.

[–] Smaile@lemmy.ca 0 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

You realize their are other car manufacturers then in the US.