Rules checked on 13 October 2026. This is a case for reform, not a guide to importing a car. No model-by-model Canadian saving is verified.
The old tariff is gone. The gate remains.
Canada ended its 100% EV surtax on 1 March 2026. The newer quota notice sets 24,500 places for September 2026 to February 2027, plus unused places from the first period. This is not a fresh monthly allowance.
The rules turn on where a car is made. A car from a non-Chinese brand can fall under the China rule. A Chinese brand is not the test.
Who gets to import?
The quota is for vehicle makers or their agents. Each covered shipment needs a permit. When the quota is full, permits stop. Paying more duty is not a general route around that cap.
There are special rules for some personal and short-term imports. Those rules do not give every new car a path onto a Canadian road. Other border and safety laws still apply.
The tax and the rebate
Quota imports face a 6.1% duty. On a made-up customs value of $30,000, that is $1,830. This is simple duty math, not a car price quote. Freight, taxes, fees, service and seller margins still matter.
The federal rebate has a separate country test. A car must be made in Canada or a country with a free trade deal with Canada. China-made cars fail that test. Cars made here also escape the $50,000 price cap. Other rebate rules still apply.
Open the door and test the cars
End the quota and duty. Let trusted proof of equal safety count. Judge data risks by what a car collects and sends, with clear tests. Require a sound recall and repair plan. Apply these rules to all makers.
Use equal rebate rules for equal outcomes. Price any extra public spending before seeking it. Test range, winter use, parts, warranty and full cost for matched models. Buyers should see both the gains and the limits.