Transport Canada Adds Geely Plants to Import Registry — EX5 and Starray EM-i Cleared for Canadian Entry

Transport Canada has added two Geely manufacturing plants to its Appendix G preclearance registry, the list of foreign factories whose vehicles have been pre-cleared for Canadian safety standards. The two facilities build the Geely EX5 (a compact electric SUV sold in China as the Galaxy E5) and the Starray EM-i (a plug-in hybrid sedan), according to Automotive News Canada reporting on November 5.

This is the most concrete regulatory step yet toward Geely's confirmed 2027 Canadian entry, which the company announced in October after launching geely.ca and hiring senior executives in Toronto.

What Appendix G means

Appendix G of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations is Transport Canada's list of foreign manufacturers whose vehicles meet Canadian safety standards without requiring case-by-case inspection at the border. Being added to the list means:

• Vehicles from those plants can be imported for retail sale without individual safety compliance testing at each shipment.
• The manufacturer has demonstrated that the model meets all applicable Canadian safety regulations (crash, lighting, emissions, etc.).
• It is a prerequisite for using the 49,000-vehicle-per-year Chinese EV quota at the 6.1% tariff rate (down from 100%).

How this fits the Geely timeline

Geely's Canadian entry has been building in stages through 2026:

• March: Geely CEO Andy An told Bloomberg the group expected Canadian certification "soon."
• April–May: Zeekr International (Geely's premium EV brand) posted six senior roles in Toronto; EX5 and EX2 test vehicles arrived at Pearson airport.
• September: The EX5 was filmed in Toronto traffic on Ontario manufacturer plates — the first road footage of a Geely-badged car in Canada.
• October: Geely confirmed a 2027 Canadian launch, launched geely.ca, and began building a dealer and service network.
• November 5: Transport Canada adds the EX5 and Starray EM-i plants to Appendix G — the final regulatory gate before retail imports can begin.

What this means for the Canadian EV market

The EX5, at a Chinese-market price of roughly 150,000–200,000 yuan (approximately C$30,000–C$40,000), would land in the same price band as the BYD Sealion 7 and Chery Omoda models already entering Canada under the quota. The Starray EM-i PHEV, a plug-in hybrid sedan, would be one of the first Chinese PHEVs sold in Canada, a segment where the current lineup is thin.

With the second quota window (33,397 permits) open through February 2027, Geely now has the regulatory clearance to begin drawing permits and shipping vehicles. The company has not announced Canadian pricing, a dealer network, or an on-sale date, but the Appendix G listing removes the last major regulatory barrier.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has noted that Geely, BYD, and Chery have all expressed willingness to explore joint ventures in Canada, though Geely has not confirmed any local production plans. The EX5 is also one of the models contracted for production at Ford's Valencia, Spain plant from 2028 under a separate global agreement, which could complicate or complement any Canadian assembly strategy.

Looking for EV deals, insurance, or financing? Check out our partner deals and offers.

If you found this guide helpful, use our Tesla referral link for free Supercharging credits on a new Tesla purchase or lease in Canada.