Electric vehicles are cars that run on electricity stored in a battery. This part of the show is about how more EVs from China may be sold in Canada, depending on government rules.
Tariffs are extra taxes on imported products. The hosts say tariffs and new rules can make it harder for car companies to plan and invest in electric vehicles.
The Tesla Model Y is an electric SUV made by Tesla. Instead of using gasoline, it runs on electricity from a battery. It’s often mentioned in pricing and policy discussions because changes in trade rules can affect how much it costs to buy.
The Tesla Model 3 is an electric car model from Tesla. They’re saying a China-built version could be priced just above $42,000 in Canada, making it unusually affordable for an EV.
A 100% surtax is an extra tax on top of the usual import costs—so the imported items get about twice as expensive. The hosts mention it because it affected how Tesla brought cars into Canada.
A permit system is a government rule that requires approval before certain products can be brought in or sold. In this clip, Canada is described as opening the permit process for China-made electric vehicles starting March 1.
The Infiniti FX is an older Infiniti SUV model. In this clip, they’re saying the new QX65 is borrowing design cues from the FX so it feels like a return to that earlier style.
Shipping cars from the U.S. to Canada can cost more than building and selling locally. The host is saying those extra costs can reduce profit, so they adjust pricing and how the lineup is offered.
“Margins” means how much profit is left after all the costs. The host is saying higher import costs are making that profit smaller, so they have to plan carefully.
MSRP is the official “sticker price” the manufacturer sets for a car. The point here is that they adjusted that sticker price so it still makes sense for buyers in Canada.
A take rate is how many people pick one option or trim out of all buyers. Here, they’re talking about how popular each trim level might be once the lineup is simplified.
Body-on-frame means the car’s body sits on a separate, sturdy frame underneath. It’s a common design for heavier SUVs and trucks, and it can help with durability and certain drivetrain layouts.
“e-POWER” is Infiniti’s way of describing a hybrid system where an electric motor does most of the driving. The gas engine mainly acts like a generator, so you don’t have to plug it in.
A V6 is a type of gas engine with six cylinders. It’s a popular engine layout because it can provide strong power while fitting well in many car designs.
Conquest customers are shoppers who switch brands—typically moving from a competitor to a new brand. The host is discussing how Infiniti’s new-customer growth in Canada may come from these conquest buyers, not just from people already loyal to Infiniti.
Incentives are discounts or promotional offers used by automakers to reduce the effective price and stimulate sales. The host notes that incentives are part of Infiniti’s overall strategy in Canada, and that the QX-65 may use a different approach early in its launch.
The Infiniti QX-50 is a smaller luxury SUV/crossover. They’re saying they were able to get more QX-50s during the tariff situation, which helped sales grow a lot.
Margin compression means the company is making less profit per vehicle than before. They’re asking whether prices will go up to fix that, or whether the company can protect profits another way.
Here, “jurisdiction” just means the country/region the rules apply to. They’re saying pricing has to work relative to competitors depending on where their cars are made and sold.
Term
packaged with the competition
“Packaged” means what features and options the car includes, compared with rival cars. They’re saying they have to price Infiniti cars so the overall deal matches what competitors offer.
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Hi everyone and welcome to the May 8th,
2026 episode of the Automotive News Canada podcast. I'm your host Greg Lason,
the digital and mobile editor at Automotive News Canada. Coming to you from just outside Windsor
Ontario, the automotive capital of Canada. Today on the show we hear from Infinity Canada Managing
Director Ken Hearn. He recently spoke with Automotive News Canada publisher Tim Domopoulos,
the two chatted during a launch event for the Infinity QX-65. The two discussed the vehicle,
its trims, tariffs, the expanding Infinity lineup, new powertrains, affordability and more.
But first to look at some of the top Canadian automotive stories of the week.
China automakers are moving closer to selling electric vehicles in Canada. That's after Ottawa
opened the door to 49,000 China-built EVs. Zhili owned Ziker is hiring executives in Toronto.
Cherry branded EVs with manufacturer plates have already surfaced in the province
and BYD has plans for up to 20 Canadian stores this year. But despite the momentum,
no import quotas had been awarded by Ottawa as of May 1st.
On the manufacturing front, Honda is reportedly putting its $15 billion Ontario EV project on
indefinite hold. That according to a report in Japan from Nikkei. The news organization says
weak US demand has forced the automaker to rethink its EV strategy. The investment included EV and
battery plants planned for Alliston, Ontario. Production was once targeted for 2028.
Honda has not confirmed the report, but the government of Canada says US tariffs and policy
changes are creating mounting pressure on automakers and their EV investments.
Finally, in retail news, one of the first automakers expected to benefit from Canada's
new Chinese EV policy is Tesla. A new China-built Tesla Model 3 will start at just over $42,000,
making it one of the cheapest EVs available in Canada, even without federal rebates.
Tesla previously imported vehicles from China before Ottawa imposed a 100%
surtax in 2024. Canada opened its permit system for China-made electric vehicles
March 1st. And that's a look at some of the top Canadian automotive stories of the week.
You can find more on those and other stories at our website, automotivenews.ca.
Coming up, we hear from Infinity Canada Managing Director Ken Hung.
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business. Welcome back to the Automotive News Canada podcast. I'm your host, Greg Lason.
We'll now hear a conversation between Automotive News Canada publisher Tim Domopoulos
and Infinity Canada Managing Director Ken Han.
So, Ken, we're here at the launch of the QX65. It's an exciting vehicle and a very,
very, very busy space. Tell me a little bit about what you think sets it apart from the
so-called competitors. Yeah, great question. So, first of all, Tim, we're really excited to get
back into this segment. As you call it, it's almost half the industry in Canada is in this
segment. We think we have a home run on our hands. And it's differentiating itself in a couple
ways, bringing back the heritage design of the FX that stood out so well as that beautiful design,
that heritage, and then how we've packaged it up. We really packaged it for the Canadian consumers.
And I'm not talking about the Lux Sport and Autograph, but I'm talking about the features
of the vehicle itself. So, you had an opportunity to see the cargo capacity today. You know, how
many other vehicles can you put four golf bags in across the width comfortably? How many other
vehicles can you place four full-size luggage plus your two other duffel bags in comfortably?
How many people, six feet plus, fit comfortably in a fastback vehicle? And ours does all of those
things packaged up into what I think personally is a beautiful, beautiful vehicle. Yeah. Well,
it's now 12.56. So, time for carrot question number two. This vehicle is being built in the
United States and shipped to Canada. I wouldn't call it an unfortunate time, but it is a
challenging time to be importing vehicles from the U.S. just from a cost standpoint. And it's
affecting margins for everybody, not just Infinity and John's, just Nissan, but anybody who produces
in the U.S. and ships up here. So, tell me a little bit about how you're mitigating the
lower margins that come with that. Yeah. So, it's definitely challenging, right?
Terrific challenging for all OEMs in Canada and the U.S., vice versa. Everybody's going
through the same challenges. So, we've priced the vehicle to the Canadian market. So, we made sure
that the MSRP on our vehicle that you'll find out about shortly is priced to the
market in Canada. And we're taking on part of this terror, right? We're taking on the
terror opportunity. And yes, it's squeezing margins, but we're making sure that we have
the product to the Canadian consumer and make sure that we're supporting our dealers with
some point. Now, you've also simplified the grade walks a little bit in terms of what kind of
trims are on offer and what kind of choice resides within that trim. Tell us a little bit
about that and tell me a little bit about where you think the take rates can be.
Yeah. So, I would say it's a very simple lineup. So, we've got an entry-level luxe,
sport well-equipped. So, think of the sport like the QX60 and the QX80 and then the autograph on
the top. Really kind of covering off the segments as we see in Canada and trying to keep it as simple
as possible to offer people what they want at different grades. The luxe trim in particular,
you know, some of the competition has got a lower price point, but a less equipped vehicle.
And we're getting very well equipped to start that. So, making sure that we have the product
to meet the demand in Canada at those three levels. Now, in terms of, you know, the launch mix,
we really feel the autograph, the top trim will be our top runner. But long-term, we'll see that
slide into the sport. Sport historically for us has been our volume player. It is in the QX80 and
it is in the QX60 as well. As everybody was saying today during the presentation and what we learned
in Japan where we were last week, there are five new models coming over the next five years,
the Infinity lineup. Tell me a little bit about how the product plans have been communicated
down to your Canadian dealership partners. What are they telling you in terms of their excitement
with the portfolio expanding again? And what's the feedback? So, that, as you call it, was new news.
So, that announcement was just made last week. So, I actually had the pleasure of sharing that
news with the dealers in Toronto this week on Tuesday. So, we laid out, you know, QX80,
high output, high horsepower, sedan version, a mid-size SUV with a hybrid, two body on frame
products coming right around the corner as well. And I can tell you there's excitement. There's
excitement to see that Infinity is back, that is driving new products every single year for five
years as you call out. So, one word if I can summarize it, it's excitement. We're coming back
and we're coming back strong. Now, powertrains matter across any lineup really, but they particularly
matter for luxury brands as well. So, tell me a little bit about some of the new powertrains we
might see in future models. Yeah. So, part of the announcement last week was also about diversification
in the powertrains. And that was a key milestone that we called out is as you rightly say, you know,
diversification is wanted. Different engine types appeal to different customers. So,
we've got stuff coming down the pipeline. I can't tell you exactly where it's coming,
but you know, picture a hybrid technology, picture e-power technology, you know, picture a V6,
all of these things packaged up in Infinity platform. Yeah. So, I asked this question, Eric,
about where he thinks customers are going to come from. And he gave us a sort of a North American
look of, you know, in terms of new customers to the brand, conquest customers. Yep. And, you know,
loyal Infinity owners kind of moving up or within the grade. So, where do you think it's going to
come from specifically in Canada? Okay. Yeah. Great question. Infinity always does an amazing
job of keeping our customers. So, once you're in an Infinity, you're loyal, we've got product that
meets the demand. So, that's number one is to keep that loyalty as strong as possible and really
drive it forward. And then in terms of the competition, we see twofold. One, we see mainstream
upgraders coming into the QX-65, just given the positioning that it has. And then on the other
one is luxury switchers. So, where do we see them coming from? You know, it's the main competition
that we have for the QX-65 in particular, you know, the RX, which is a strong player in that
segment, you know, the Nautilist. So, getting into the domestic side, coming into it as well.
And then some of the Germans as well, you know, the Q5 moving over. So, we really think we've
packaged it up and I can't wait for Canadian consumers to see it on the road. Now, Canadian
consumers are getting a little tighter with their wallets, especially when it comes to
the luxury. So, affordability is on everybody's mind, even with affluent customers.
Nissan and Infinity has, you know, done some work in terms of compressing the offering down
and making it a little bit more simpler to deal with some of the affordability challenges. But
are you guys putting any money on the hood or are you working on incentives for any of the
vehicles that are here or coming? Tell me a little bit. So, I would say, you know, the cars that we
have in the market today, you know, the incentives is always part of the strategy, no different than
any other OEM in Canada, how we do it. And then QX-65, obviously a launch vehicle, different
approach at the beginning. And then we'll kind of see where that goes. So, what's exciting you
most about the brand? You've been running Infinity in Canada now for a bit of time.
Yeah, it's been 18 months. Yeah, enough time where you're now responsible for the outcome.
So, what is, where are your goalposts, like in terms of where, you know,
for the, where were they for the first 18 months and where are they going to be for the next 18?
Yeah. So, I'd say it's a great first 18 months in the job, right? So, we launched the QX-80,
the newer version, and we saw sales go up 30% on that product, right? With the tariff situation and
everything that transpired with that, we got some additional QX-50s, and we were able to grow that
almost 300% in the last year. So, very successful, I would say, in terms of those two products for
the first year. And in terms of as I see it going forward, you know, it's launch after launch after
launch. Every single year there's something new, and part of that also comes growth. So, it's two
fold. Successful launches of product that the Canadian consumer wants starting with the QX-65
and continued growth in terms of our sales in Canada.
Cara, question number three, 104. So, if in a world where we have a Kuzma deal or at least,
you know, an idea of how we're going to work with our neighbors in the South moving forward,
and let's say we do get a deal and we have some visibility on what the tariff situation is going
to be, so we don't have to necessarily plan around it anymore. We can just plan with it,
and we know what the path moving forward is. What is going to happen to price? Do you think
you will see pricing kind of increase to make up that margin compression that we're seeing now with
some of the products coming from the US, or you're going to be an opportunity to expand the margins
by price increases? I mean, it's kind of an unfair question I know because who knows what's
going to happen, but at some point, you know, you're not going to be able to pass along the savings
exclusively to the customer, right? You have to be able to be competitive from a margin standpoint
with the people who manufacture another jurisdiction. So, where do you think that's going to go?
Well, what I would say is yes to your question in terms of the jurisdiction. We need to kind of
play out there, but there's also the component that we need to have vehicles in Canada that are
priced versus the competition that are packaged with the competition. And so, it's always a balancing
act that we get. And then, you know, the long-term vision is obviously take care of the Canadian
consumer. But what I can say is the last 18 months or a year I should say with the tariffs,
it's been challenging, different challenging. How do you look at it? And then, you know,
you don't know the goal post till you're there. I'd like to thank Ken for his time and Tim for
conducting the interview. If you'd like to be a guest on the show, have a suggestion or simply
want to comment, email me at glasen.autonews.com. And remember, you can listen to all our previous
podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, or on our website, automotivenews.ca.
Just scroll to the podcast hub in the middle of the homepage. And don't forget,
you can follow Automotive News Canada on X, where we're at Autonews Canada. I'm there too
under at glasen ANC. And finally, look for us on LinkedIn. Just search Automotive News Canada.
That does it for this episode of the Automotive News Canada podcast. We hope you'll join us next
time. So long, everybody.
About this episode
Canadian EV policy and Infiniti’s next moves drive the conversation, with Ottawa’s opening for China-built EVs, Tesla pricing, and pressure from tariffs shaping the market backdrop. The second half focuses on Infiniti Canada’s Ken Hearn, who outlines the QX-65 launch, heritage-inspired design, Canadian pricing, and how the brand is balancing incentives, trim mix, and future powertrains like hybrids and e-POWER.
Chinese EVs are closer; Honda halts $15B plan; Tesla’s cheap Model 3 Plus, Infiniti Canada Managing Director Ken Hearn talks about the QX65, tariffs, the brand’s expanding lineup, affordability, and more.
