Dongfeng Motor Corporation plans to launch the Vigo crossover and Nammi Box hatchback in Canada in 2027, targeting starting prices under C$35,000 (about $25,000) for both models. North World Industry, the automaker's designated Canadian distributor, outlined the timeline after a July 14, 2026 showcase at Montreal's Old Port.The event followed a bilateral trade agreement Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney finalized with Beijing in January 2026, which replaced a 100% surtax on Chinese-built EVs with the standard 6.1% tariff for up to 49,000 vehicles annually. The quota took legal effect March 1, 2026, and grows 6.5% each year. In exchange, China lowered tariffs on select Canadian agricultural imports. Dongfeng displayed seven vehicles in Montreal spanning four sub-brands, including the Voyah Dream and Free, the M-Hero 817, and the eπ 007 sedan, but North World Industry director Julie Mazorra Fernández identified the Vigo and Nammi Box as the two most likely to reach Canadian buyers first. Both are undergoing homologation with Transport Canada, and Dongfeng has already stood up a Canadian distributor website listing the pair as "Box 01 EV" and "Vigo EV" under pending regulatory approval.Dongfeng Box 01 EV subcompact hatchback (Dongfeng)The Nammi Box, marketed elsewhere as the Dongfeng Box, is a subcompact five-door hatchback built on a front-wheel-drive layout with a single 70 kW (94 hp) motor. Its larger 42.3 kWh LFP battery pack is rated for 310 km (193 miles) of range on the WLTP cycle, or 430 km (267 miles) under China's CLTC standard, while a smaller 31.45 kWh pack offers roughly 230 km (143 miles) WLTP.The Vigo, sold in China as the Nammi 06, is a compact crossover roughly the size of a Kia Seltos. It carries a single 135 kW (181 hp) front motor and is available with 44.94 kWh or 51.87 kWh LFP battery packs, delivering up to 350 km (217 miles) WLTP or 471 km (293 miles) CLTC on the larger pack, with a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph). Its split tailgate opens in two sections, similar to the BMW X7.Dongfeng Vigo EV compact crossover (Dongfeng)Dongfeng's Hong Kong-market specification sheet for the Vigo lists an 800-volt charging architecture, which halves peak current versus the 400-volt systems common on most EVs today, along with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip running the infotainment system. Canadian configurations, equipment and final range figures remain unconfirmed until homologation is complete, according to Dongfeng's own distributor site. A sub-C$35,000 price would put both cars well below comparable Canadian offerings; a base Nissan Leaf runs roughly $35,000 USD equivalent with 303 miles of range, while a Chevrolet Bolt LT lists around $30,000 USD equivalent with 262 miles. Dongfeng joins BYD (HKG: 1211), Chery, and Geely (HKG: 0175) in pursuing Canada's new quota; Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has so far absorbed the largest share of permits with Shanghai-built Model 3 sedans, while Lotus has begun shipping Eletre SUVs under the same framework.North World Industry, headquartered in Longueuil, Quebec, has said Dongfeng is also interested in eventual local manufacturing partnerships, pointing to the automaker's existing joint ventures with Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) and Nissan (TYO: 7201) in Europe and South America. Whether that translates into Canadian production, or whether the Vigo and Nammi Box arrive strictly as imports, will depend on how quickly Transport Canada's certification process closes out over the coming months.
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