Canada may get cheap Chinese EVs because of cooking oil – here’s why
Canada is “reviewing” its current 100% tariff on Chinese EVs, which could potentially give another entry point for the inexpensive, advanced vehicles into the North American market.
The strange part? The review is being pushed for, mainly, by the premiers of right-leaning provinces. And it has everything to do with your cooking oil.
The news of the review came yesterday from the National Post, who confirmed with Canada’s national finance minister that “officials are currently undertaking work on this review, including an assessment of China’s policies and trade practices, and whether the scope of the surtaxes, as well as the surtax rate, remain appropriate.”
Canada currently has a 100% tariff (surtax) on Chinese EVs and a 25% tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum, implemented last October. Canada’s tariffs came after similar tariffs implemented by US President Biden, though they were justified by claiming that China engages in unfair competition in EVs.
The country does have a significant auto industry, with about 10% of Canada’s exports consisting of cars, trucks and the parts and accessories for each. This auto industry is heavily tied with the US auto industry, which is centered in Detroit, a literal stone’s throw away from the Canadian border.
As a result, Canada followed the US’ lead with tariffs, recognizing that our two countries, historically tied together by the close trade and cultural relationships across the longest border on Earth should be on the same page about an industry that is shared and important to each of us (nevermind that the US tariffs were dumb to begin with).
A souring US-Canada relationship
But since then, things have changed. A contentious election in the US led to the dumbest person on the planet squatting in an office that he is Constitutionally barred from holding, and after that election the ignoramus in question illegally imposed even dumber tariffs on China and the rest of the world.
The same ignoramus also made numerous threats against Canada’s sovereignty and targeted the country with tariffs despite the close relationship between the US and Canada.
This caused disruption in Canada’s auto industry, including immediate job losses and a scramble to beg for exemptions for the industry that has long-benefitted from free cross-border movement of supplies. (Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney today cited US tariffs as his reason for delaying Canada’s EV transition, showing how the actions of US republicans aren’t just poisoning Americans, but Canadians as well.
All told, all of this nonsense had the primary effect of swinging a sure-bet election for Canada’s right-wing into a solid win for the incumbent Liberal party.
And it has left Canadians thinking more about their own national identity, and searching to establish some independence from the United States of America’s whims on the International stage.
It’s all about cooking oil
With the US-Canada relationship already soured, China struck a characteristically surgical blow. In response to Canada’s tariffs on EVs, China announced it would impose heavy tariffs of 76% on… canola. Yes, the thing that’s in your cooking oil.
Canada is the world’s top producer of canola, ahead of China. And China is the world’s top consumer of canola (though US is Canada’s largest buyer of canola). So, China’s move removes a big market for Canadian farmers and disrupts the global canola market significantly. It’s estimated this has cost Western Canadian farmers nearly a billion dollars already (China did a similar move in 2018 with a soybean tariff on the US).
Now here’s the rub: Western Canada is the more rural part of the country, with giant plains provinces like Saskatchewan and Alberta whose primary industries are farming and oil. That’s where the canola is grown. These provinces, predictably, are pretty conservative. And they’re mad about these tariffs.
Canada’s right-wing leads charge for Chinese EVs
And so, the right-wing premiers of both Saskatchewan and Alberta have recently demanded that the Canadian government remove tariffs on Chinese EVs, in the hope that it would get China to remove the tariffs that are currently ruining Canada’s canola farmers. Saskatchewan’s premier is even heading to China right now to negotiate.
From the US, this seems counterintuitive – why would the right-wing be asking for more EVs, when the right wing in the US is so stupidly against improving our transportation options.
And it even seems counterintuitive from the Canadian perspective, as the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan both have ridiculous registration taxes for electric cars, where EVs suffer high opposition due to the prominence of the oil industry in the each of them. Alberta, in particular, is often referred to as the “Texas of Canada,” and has a brewing separatist movement, some members of which want Alberta to join the USA. So how’s that for an inversion of expectations.
But as a result of the US’ haphazard tariff nonsense, its own allies in Canada (even specifically those in the Canadian right wing) have been pushed towards a deeper relationship with China, with Canadian PM Carney stating this week “there may be areas where… we can expand the commercial relationship with things that China does well.”
And the charge by right-wing premiers seems to be working. After yesterday’s announcement of the Canadian federal government’s “review” of Chinese EV tariffs, and the impending trip to China by Canadian trade officials and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, China delayed the imposition of canola tariffs just today.
So, Canadian farmers get some breathing room – and depending on the results of the tariff “review,” if they end up getting access to cheap Chinese EVs, they might breathe more freely in more ways than one.
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![Kia's electric van spotted in two surprising new versions [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/11/Kia-PV5-versions.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Is it an electric van? Pickup truck? The PV5 can do it all. Kia’s electric van was caught with two new body types for the first time.
What PV5 version is Kia planning to launch?
The PV5 is more than just a futuristic-looking electric van. It’s what Kia calls “the world’s most useful electric mobility vehicle.”
It’s the first from its new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business, which will offer a wide range of customizable EVs, advanced software, and much more.
During its PV5 Tech Day event in July, Kia revealed plans to introduce seven PV5 body types, ranging from a light camper to an open-bed truck.
The PV5 Passenger and Cargo, built for personal and business use, are already rolling out in Europe and South Korea. The Cargo Compact (available in 3- and 4-door configurations) and the Cargo High Roof are also available.
New variants will include an open bed, a light camper, a luxury “Prime” passenger, a built-in truck, and a refrigerated truck.
The refrigerated truck was captured driving in public for the first time in South Korea, offering a closer look at what’s coming soon. Kia will launch three PV5 refrigerated truck models: low, standard, and high.
The video from HealerTV reveals the standard and high versions. In person, the reporter noted that the high version definitely appeared taller than the standard version.
Although the front looks like the PV5 Passenger and Cargo, the back is redesigned for the refrigerated unit. Kia has yet to reveal a launch date, but it’s expected to be by the end of 2025.
Another PV5 variant, the open-bed version, was recently spotted in public in South Korea. Although we’ve seen it a few times before, the new video, also from the folks at HealerTV, offers our best look at the truck-like variant from all angles.
Meanwhile, the PV5 Cargo just set a new Guinness World Record after driving 430.84 miles (693.38 km) on a single charge, while carrying a full load.
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The new 2026 Nissan LEAF has an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 303 miles, but real-world tests suggest it can go even further.
New 2026 Nissan LEAF beats range estimates
Nissan upgraded its iconic electric hatch for its third generation, bringing a new style, faster charging, and over 300 miles of driving range.
The 2026 LEAF boasts 25% more driving range than the outgoing model with an official EPA rating of up to 303 miles. That’s a pretty big difference from the up to 212-mile rating on the 2025 LEAF SV Plus.
In the real world, it will likely drive even further. According to Edmunds, the new LEAF “far exceeded its official EPA estimate” in early tests.
The 2026 Nissan LEAF Platinum+ was just put through the Edmunds EV Range Test, traveling 310 miles on a single charge. That’s for the Platinum+ trim, which has an official EPA-estimated driving range of just 259 miles. The SV+ is rated with 288 miles, while the base S+ has 303 miles.
Based on early tests, Edmunds expects all new LEAF trims to offer significantly more driving range than their ratings indicate.
Nissan’s new LEAF also topped the EPA’s efficiency expectations. The 2026 LEAF achieved an energy consumption of 27.8 kWh per 100 miles during the test, compared to the EPA estimated 33 kWh per 100 miles. That’s a nearly 16% improvement.
The Edmunds EV range test offers a more accurate estimate of a vehicle’s real-world range. It’s made up of 60% city and 40% highway with an average speed of 40 mph. The car stays within 5 miles of the posted speed limit, is set at its most efficient setting, and the climate control is set on auto at 72 degrees.
| 2026 Nissan LEAF trim | Starting Price | Driving Range (EPA-estimated) |
| LEAF S+ | $29,990 | 303 miles |
| LEAF SV+ | $34,230 | 288 miles |
| LEAF Platinum+ | $38,990 | 259 miles |
Starting at $29,990, the 2026 Nissan LEAF is poised to challenge the Chevy Equinox EV on price and driving range.
The Chevy Equinox EV LT delivered 356 miles of range and an energy consumption of 28.9 kWh per 100 miles during the Edmunds EV Range Test.
The electric Equinox is currently the third-most-popular EV in the US, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Will the upgrades be enough for the LEAF to make a comeback?
Ready to test drive one to see for yourself? You can use our links below to find Nissan LEAF and Chevy Equinox EVs closest to you.
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We’re getting the first batch of Tesla registration data out of Europe for October 2025, and it confirms the worrying trend we’ve been tracking: Tesla’s demand is in a steep decline.
Based on data from 9 key markets that have reported so far, Tesla’s registrations fell 36.3% year over year (YoY).
Just 4,170 units were registered in these countries (including Norway, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands) compared to 6,549 in those same exact markets in October 2024.
Here are the markets that reported October 2025 data so far:
- 🇫🇷 France: 83.7% Growth (1,784 vs 971) 📈
- 🇪🇸 Spain: 30.6% Decline (393 vs 566) 📉
- 🇮🇹 Italy: 47.1% Decline (256 vs 484) 📉
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands: 47.9% Decline (645 vs 1,238) 📉
- 🇳🇴 Norway: 50.2% Decline (671 vs 1,348) 📉
- 🇵🇹 Portugal: 58.7% Decline (144 vs 349) 📉
- 🇦🇹 Austria: 64.5% Decline (97 vs 273) 📉
- 🇫🇮 Finland: 67.6% Decline (47 vs 145) 📉
- 🇸🇪 Sweden: 88.7% Decline (133 vs 1,175) 📉
The only positive in October for Tesla was the French market, which saw significant growth due to a new EV incentive program for low- to middle-income people.
The rest was disastrous.
While some analysts are trying to push the idea that Tesla’s European sales have now bottomed after two years of decline, most reporting markets in October are showing the worst month of Tesla registrations this year. That includes even months before the availability of the Model Y refresh.
It also includes Norway, which has been one of Tesla’s healthiest markets amid its decline in Europe.
Looking at the year-to-date (YTD) figures for all of Europe, Tesla’s total registrations are down over 30% through the first ten months, falling from over 255,000 units by this time in 2024 to just 177,000 this year.
Electrek’s Take
I truly wonder when Elon or the board is going to do something about this. I know that their idea is that FSD is coming to save the day at some point, but that sounds ridiculous. At a 12% take rate, even once it becomes available in Europe, I doubt it will have a significant impact.
Tesla’s issues in Europe come from two main things: brand damage due to Elon Musk and competition.
Unlike in the US where Tesla has limited competition, the EV market is significantly more competitive in Europe, where some Chinese automakers are already esthablishing a presence and where European, Korean, and Japanese legacy automakers are making more EV models avialable.
Tesla needs a fresh EV lineup in Europe. And eslewhere for that matter.
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