Brands
Brand overviews and history.
Geely & Zeekr in Canada: The Most Connected Chinese Automaker
Geely is China's largest private automaker and, by my count, the most globally connected car company most Canadians have never heard of. Founded in 1986 by entrepreneur Li Shufu, Geely made international headlines in 2010 by acquiring Volvo Cars from Ford for $1.8 billion. Today, Geely also owns Polestar, Lotus, LEVC (the company that makes London's iconic black cabs), Proton (Malaysia), and holds roughly a 10% stake in Mercedes-Benz.
ORA and GWM in Canada: The Retro EV You Didn't See Coming
Great Wall Motors (GWM) is one of China's largest and oldest private automakers, best known internationally for its Haval SUVs and tough-as-nails pickup trucks. ORA is GWM's dedicated EV sub-brand, launched in 2018, and its hero model — the ORA Good Cat (sold as the ORA 03 in some markets) — is a retro-styled electric hatchback that looks like absolutely nothing else on the road.
MG in Canada: A British Icon, Reimagined in China
MG (Morris Garages) is one of those rare brands with genuine heritage. Founded in 1924 in Oxford, England, MG spent decades making beloved sports cars — the MGB, the Midget, the MGA. Then came financial trouble, ownership changes, and eventually acquisition by SAIC Motor, a Chinese state-owned automaker, in 2007. Today, MG builds electric vehicles in China and sells them across Europe, the UK, Australia, and Thailand. The MG4 hatchback has become one of Europe's top-selling EVs since its 2022 launch, and the brand is now eyeing Canada.
Chery in Canada: The Brand You Haven't Heard Of (Yet)
Chery is China's largest vehicle exporter and one of its oldest private automakers. Founded in 1997, Chery has spent nearly three decades building cars, expanding globally, and steadily improving quality. Most Canadians have never heard of them — but people in South America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Russia, and increasingly Europe know the name well.
BYD in Canada: The World's Largest EV Maker Arrives
BYD (Build Your Dreams) is the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer by sales volume. Founded in 1995 as a battery company, BYD now sells more EVs than any other automaker on Earth. With Canada opening its doors to Chinese-manufactured EVs in 2026, BYD is expected to bring several models to market — including vehicles priced well below anything currently available in Canada.