Updated October 18, 2026. Many Canadians are searching for BYD right now. The short answer is this. BYD has not said when it will sell cars in Canada. It has not said which models or what they will cost. This page lists what we can check and what is only talk. The car in the photo is a Sealion 7 photographed outside Canada.

What BYD has really done in Canada

  • BYD has a Canadian website at byd.com/en-ca, in English and French. It talks about BYD technology, such as Flash Charging and the Blade Battery. We found no models and no prices on the page we read.
  • The site names BYD Canada Company Limited and an address at 60 Travail Road in Markham, Ontario, according to AutoMédia on September 14.
  • BYD has job postings in Toronto. The news site EV counted at least 14 open jobs on September 11. One is for a "flash charging" network. Job posts show plans. They are not an announcement.
  • AutoMédia says the site has no way to find a dealer or reserve a model.

What is not true: the fake BYD story

In late May, a story said BYD planned 20 dealerships in Canada and a $25,000 Seagull. The claims came from an X account that pretended to be BYD executive Stella Li. Global News took its story down. BYD told Global News that it had not announced passenger car plans in Canada, more than 20 dealerships or any specific model.

So please ignore the $25,000 price. Some websites also list prices from about $22,000. BYD did not give those numbers either. If anyone asks you for a deposit "for a BYD in Canada," be careful. BYD has not named any dealer in Canada.

Other outlets have reported dealer plans. Bloomberg reported in April that BYD plans about 20 dealerships. EV reports that the head of the firm hunting for sites told Reuters in June that six were planned for the first year. BYD has not confirmed either number.

Cars seen testing in Canada

EV reports that four BYD-group vehicles have been photographed in Ontario and Quebec:

  • Sealion 7, an electric SUV
  • Shark, a plug-in hybrid pickup
  • Sealion 06, an electric SUV
  • Ti7, a plug-in hybrid SUV from BYD's off-road brand Fangchengbao

BYD has not said it will sell any of them here. EV also says none of the four is on the list of models BYD filed with Transport Canada. EV adds that Reuters reported in June that BYD had started the rules process for two passenger models.

A silver BYD Atto 3 electric SUV seen from the back in Europe

Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A BYD Atto 3, photographed outside Canada. Early reports named it as a possible Canadian model. BYD has not confirmed that.

The rules that shape any launch

In January 2026, Ottawa made a deal with China. Canada now lets in 49,000 China-built electric vehicles a year at a 6.1% tariff. The quota started on March 1, 2026, according to Global Affairs Canada. It replaced a 100% surtax, EV reports.

The quota has two six-month windows. These are the latest numbers from Global Affairs Canada, in its report updated October 9:

  • First window, March 1 to August 31: 15,603 of 24,500 permits used
  • September: 328 more permits used
  • Total used so far: 15,931
  • Still available: 33,069

The quota is shared by every China-built brand, including Tesla, Volvo and Polestar. EV says that almost all first-window imports were Shanghai-built Tesla Model 3s. That is based on reports from other outlets. You can read more in our story on the Tesla Model 3 order pause.

What about the $5,000 rebate?

The federal Electric Vehicle Affordability Program pays up to $5,000 in 2026. Transport Canada says the car must be made in Canada or in a country that has a free-trade deal with Canada. APA, the Automobile Protection Association, says that rule means China-built cars, including the Shanghai Model 3, do not qualify. Provincial rebates work differently. Check your province before you buy.

Why people are searching now

Google Trends does not say why. Here is what the news looked like this month:

  • On October 8, Automotive News wrote that BYD, Chery and Geely are close to a Canadian launch as dealer deals arrive.
  • On October 9, Geely said it would start selling in Canada in 2027. Read our Geely Canada story.
  • On October 9, a poll by Abacus Data for Clean Energy Canada said 42% of likely EV buyers might wait for more Chinese EVs. The poll asked 2,762 adults in September.

What this means if you are shopping

You cannot buy a BYD in Canada today. There is no price list, no warranty terms and no test drive. APA wrote in June that BYD has not published Canadian warranty terms. It also warned that new brands can have early problems with parts and service. It asked how BYD will handle charging plugs. BYD uses a plug called GB/T in China, and Canada uses CCS and NACS.

If you want an electric car now, there are real choices on sale. See the Tesla Model 3, the Tesla Model Y, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and the Chevrolet Equinox EV. You can also compare the IONIQ 5 and the Model Y. Our EV guide explains rebates, charging and prices. Gas prices drive the cost of running a gas car. We show the numbers in our fuel use guide.

What we still do not know

  • Which BYD models Canada will get
  • The Canadian prices
  • The launch date and the first dealer cities
  • The warranty
  • The charging plug
  • If BYD will build a plant here. EV reports that Stella Li told Bloomberg in March that BYD was studying one.

FAQ

Is BYD coming to Canada? BYD has a Canadian company, a Canadian website and job postings. It has not announced a sales date.

When can I buy a BYD in Canada? BYD has not said. Nobody can sell you one yet.

How much will a BYD cost in Canada? BYD has not given a price. Be careful with prices you see online, because they are guesses.

Can I reserve a BYD? AutoMédia says BYD's site has no way to reserve a model. Do not pay a deposit to someone who says they sell BYDs in Canada.

Will BYD get the $5,000 rebate? Under Transport Canada's rules, the car must be made in Canada or in a free-trade partner country. APA says China-built cars do not qualify.

Sources

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