Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) have started to arrive in Canada amid concerns about how the imports could affect national security.
More than 2,900 Chinese EVs entered Canada in May, data from Global Affairs Canada shows. This is the first month Canada has received EV imports from China.
These are the first vehicles to arrive since Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to let in Chinese EVs under a reduced tariff rate. Canada imposed a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese EVs in 2024. But following a trade trip to China in January, Carney is now allowing up to 49,000 EVs per year into Canada with a tariff rate of 6.1 per cent in exchange for lower tariffs on Canadian agricultural products.
A federal government memo obtained through the Access to Information Act and first reported on by The Canadian Press urges Canadians to be cautious about the privacy risks of digital devices they buy and use.
The memo states that data connected to vehicle systems could be used to “establish patterns of life or conduct surveillance on sensitive sites.”
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“The risk that Canadian data collected by connected vehicles are accessed and exploited increases when these data are sent to — or transit through — foreign jurisdictions with more permissive data management frameworks,” it states.
“The Chinese government has shown their intention to try to use any technology that they can to advance their own goals,” Neil Bisson, a former intelligence officer, told Global News. “And that would include using Chinese EVs to collect data that they could be compelled back in China to use for whatever purposes they feel.”
While the memo states that there is an increasing threat of malicious actors targeting digital devices, Bisson said there is growing apathy towards Canadians’ own personal information being collected. He said this can become concerning when the technology is in the hands of an adversary.
In 2017, the Chinese government passed its National Intelligence Law, which requires any Chinese companies to comply with state orders to hand over any information.
“Essentially what that means is that if the Ministry of State Security decides that it would further their own goals for the Chinese Communist Party, they could simply go to whatever manufacturer … and say you’re giving us this information that you collected,” he said.
The federal government memo also expresses concern when other devices, such as mobile phones, networking equipment and cameras, are connected to the vehicle.
With the agreement between Canada and China reached, Bisson said the only stopgap is for consumers to make their own choices at the dealership. But he said he fears many Canadians are not fully aware of the potential dangers.
“There’s been a bit of an underlying lack of talking about the issues surrounding this technology and how it could be used against Canadian interests,” he said.
With the imported vehicles priced lower than domestically built EVs, Bisson said they may be more attractive to consumers.
“A lot of Canadians are, at the end of the day, more concerned about whether or not they’re going to be able to afford something than if a foreign adversary might be using the technology that they’re buying against them,” he said.
Proponents of Carney’s new relationship with China have also argued that allowing Chinese-made EVs provides more market choice for consumers.
This article about the first Chinese EV cars arriving in Canada doesn’t say what make or model they are. It doesn’t mention where they are destined or anything about the cars. That’s what I want to know.
Reliability aside for the moment, I would like to buy a car without any cameras, microphones, GPS or WiFi. Just a car, nothing more.
If you have a cell phone or Smart TV, you have no secrets.
Mr Bisson shows the same bunker mentality that the Americans use to control their misinformed public. Adversary? Look South for our biggest adversary Mr Bisson.
Nothing will happen as they are not the ones freezing accounts of every kind. The governments getting access to Google, ChatGpt, Apple, MS are after your data.
Hiya, here’s your 2900 Trojan horses. Enjoy.
I am disappointed what was written counts as news. These are just scare mongering without any proof. I am happy to buy Chinese EVs. Let us decide for ourselves. Vox pop!
I don’t hate Canada enough to drive around in around in China made vehicle that cost Canadians jobs. These should be banned.
These cost how many Canadian jobs?
How many cancelled canadian projects? These Are so full of Chinese surveillance spyware they aren’t even legal to cross the border into the US.
Mark Carney is a traitor to Canada, he’s selling us out.
Agenda 2030 in full swing.
What sensitive information are they going to extract… My shopping habits. It seems there is an attempt to scare people from what seems like a great advancement.
The Liberal Party is composed mostly of CCP agents and sympathizers so they will be first in line to purchase followed by their sheep,the Elbozo voters.
Of course Carney and the Liberal losers will let these cars in. They had no problems with the Chinese police stations and Chinese political interference as well. China owns these bitches.
The only consumer area where China really lags behind the West is in its ability to make chips, and that’s primarily due to export restrictions. China’s huge population and improving standards of education mean that it is a major force in the tech world and has overtaken the West in many areas. For better or worse, this is what happens when the government essentially controls industry directly. Chinese EVs are technologically equal to or better than the Western offerings. Yes, they are being subsidized by the Chinese government. So what? This happens everywhere. Look at oil & gas tax subsidies in Canada.
@Marc
ANY car that has a built-in cell modem can spy on you, not just EVs. OnStar is well known for sending back to home base all kinds of personal info on your behaviour in your car.
Gotta stop using ai… what’s the first “Chinese” car that’s been selling…Tesla
EVs won’t have access to anything more than every other Internet-connected Chinese-manufactured device already has. I’m not concerned.
Besides, the car can only spy on you if you allow it to connect. If it bothers you, find the cellular antenna and disconnect it. Problem solved.
North American auto makers are chosing not to manufacture EVs because they claim there is no demand for them so why are they worried now? If no demand no one will buy and this experiment will be over
What’s different then Microsoft, Google, Samsung etc
They all watch us why are we panicking
Why would any government allow vehicles into the country with the capability of spying and collecting data.
Try This, Samsung primarily manufactures its smartphones in Vietnam and India. Apple makes ’em in China and India. Google makes’ em in India, China, and Vietnam.
Also, none of these brands of phones have Chinese spyware built in.
Apples/oranges comparison.
Cheap chink garbage.
Does the word paranoia mean anything? What nonsense. Why would where I drive, or the condition of my vehicle be of any national security? Why all the fuss about cars, when the cell phones we all use are mostly made in China? Think about it, then laugh at this nonsense.
It is more important that the batteries do not last in Canadian winters. The range is useless for many of us. I love the idea of cheap Chinese vehicles. When is Carney going to allow us to buy Chinese gasoline powered vehicles with no tariffs? SAIC, Dongfeng, BAIC, and Changan are the brands that are available. A Changan CS55 Plus sells for $21k CAD. A matching Ford Edge starts at $36k – we are being gouged by western auto makers.
the sad part is that people think this is not already happening by our own government watching all of our actions and
Google , Apple , Samsung etc are doing it too. this is not anything new
Funny there’s only speculation. What about Tesla? How much info is Musk getting? And for that matter any EV?
North American automakers are going to have a really hard time catching up to the Chinese