Gasgoo Munich- On May 6, 18 Lotus Eletre all-electric hyper-SUVs were loaded onto a ship in Shanghai, officially bound for the Canadian market. As the first batch of high-end Chinese EVs to enter following Canada's tariff reduction on Chinese electric vehicles, this shipment marks a significant breakthrough for Chinese smart manufacturing in the North American premium EV sector. It also makes Lotus the first premium NEV brand to complete North American certification and ship fully assembled units.
The Eletres heading overseas were produced at Lotus's Global Smart Factory in Wuhan. By leveraging real-time interaction between virtual production lines and physical manufacturing, the facility uses a high-precision system to guarantee quality, laying the groundwork for global deliveries and high-standard exports.
Image Source: Lotus
The vehicle officially launched in Canada on April 24. Positioned as an all-electric hyper-SUV, it carries a starting price of 119,900 Canadian dollars, with the top-trim model reaching 179,000 Canadian dollars.
The North American market has long been known for its stringent entry standards, with Canada's CMVSS motor vehicle safety certification system posing a major hurdle for Chinese automakers. Lotus began laying the groundwork for certification two years in advance and completed the full North American process in 2024, becoming the first brand to pass certification and ship units following the policy shift.
In early 2026, Canada will eliminate the 100% additional tariff on Chinese electric vehicles. Vehicles within the quota will revert to a 6.1% most-favored-nation tariff rate, with an annual quota of 49,000 units. Thanks to its proactive compliance strategy, Lotus is among the first high-end Chinese automakers to capitalize on this policy dividend. On the market expansion front, the company is simultaneously building out its service network.
By the first quarter of 2026, Lotus will have established six authorized dealerships in Canada, with plans to expand to 12 by the end of the year. Covering key cities, these outlets will provide local users with a full cycle of services, including product experiences, sales, and after-sales support.
