Multiple Chery-badged vehicles, including models from its premium EXEED sub-brand, have been photographed in Toronto near the Don Valley Parkway — the latest sign that China's third-largest automaker is accelerating its push into the Canadian market ahead of a planned launch later this year.One of the spotted vehicles appears to be the EXEED Sterra ES (Exlantix ES), the brand's flagship full-size electric sedan.Chery EXEED ES Sterra spotted (X @SimplyGregster)The sightings come three months after Canada struck a landmark tariff deal with China on January 16, 2026, slashing duties on Chinese-built EVs from 100 percent to the most-favoured-nation rate of 6.1 percent. Under the agreement, up to 49,000 Chinese-manufactured EVs may enter Canada annually — roughly the volume imported in 2023 — with the quota set to rise approximately 6 percent per year, reaching 70,000 units by 2030.The first tranche of 24,500 import permits covers March 1 through August 31, 2026, with a second tranche of equal size covering September 2026 through February 2027. Chery Automobile Co. sold approximately 2.6 million vehicles globally in 2025, making it China's third-largest automaker by volume. The company operates through several international sub-brands — EXEED, OMODA, JAECOO, and others — and has filed Canadian trademark applications for all of them.Chery Exlantix ES (Chery)The Chery name itself cannot be used in North America due to a longstanding dispute with General Motors, which argues the name is too similar to its Chevrolet "Chevy" brand.EXEED sits at the premium end of Chery's portfolio, with a lineup that includes the mid-size RX crossover SUV, the large VX seven-seater, and the Sterra ES flagship electric sedan. The Sterra ES is offered with battery options up to 97.7 kWh, with CATL supplying the top-trim pack that delivers up to 905 km (562 miles) of range on the CLTC cycle; the AWD variant produces 345 kW and 634 Nm, sprinting from 0–100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, and an 800-volt architecture enables 420 kW DC fast charging capable of replenishing the battery from 30 to 80 percent in nine minutes.The VX C-DM plug-in hybrid, launched in February 2026, delivers a combined 610 hp through a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and dual electric motors paired with a 34.46 kWh battery, offering 143 km (89 miles) of pure-electric range on the WLTP cycle. Behind the scenes, Chery has been building its Canadian operation in earnest. The company began recruiting automotive industry veterans in Canada as early as January 2026, posting roles covering complete vehicle engineering, safety, electronic and electrical architecture, intelligent driving systems, and regulatory certification. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly met with Chery executives in Beijing during Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to China, signaling government-level engagement on both sides.Demo units are projected to arrive by mid-2026, with limited retail availability expected in the second half of the year — Quebec and British Columbia, Canada's two largest EV markets, are likely to be the initial focus. Chery joins BYD (HKG: 1211) and Geely as the three Chinese automakers confirmed to be targeting consumer sales in Canada before year-end, with all three still working through vehicle certification requirements and finalizing dealer partnerships. Toronto is expected to anchor Chery's initial dealership network before a broader national rollout.Whether Canadian buyers will embrace a premium Chinese EV brand as readily as they have adopted Chinese-made consumer electronics remains the central question facing EXEED as its Toronto test fleet takes to the streets.
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