Cheap Chinese Electric Cars Are Coming To Canada. What Happens Now?

Plus, we preview the Volvo EX60, and have a fascinating chat about car insurance (yes, really.)

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Patrick George

By: Patrick George

Jan 23, at 10:31am ET

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It's no secret that China's high-tech electric vehicles and hybrids are taking over the world—everywhere but in the United States and Canada, really.

But that's about to change for the latter country very soon. On this week's Plugged-In Podcast, we're discussing the recent trade deal that will renew Chinese EV imports into America's neighbor to the north—and what that means for the entire North American car market.

My co-host Tim Levin and I also have a lot to say about the new Volvo EX60, which is unquestionably the Swedish automaker's most important EV ever (and perhaps its most important modern car, period). With 400 miles of range, compelling tech, excellent fast-charging and a price tag that's not stratospherically expensive, it seems positioned to be a winner—if Volvo can stick the landing after years of tech issues.

Finally, we have a rousing discussion—really, I promise!—about car insurance. The startup Lemonade is offering a deal where it will cut Tesla owners' driven-mile rate by 50% if they use Full Self-Driving (Supervised). It's a huge bet on the idea that FSD is actually safer than a human driver, which Tesla has long claimed but is far from widely accepted.

More than that, this could be a groundbreaking moment for how the insurance industry eventually treats autonomous cars. After all, the liability issues alone mean they'll need to be insured differently from conventional cars. Where does this go next?

Check out the show wherever you get podcasts (find your preferred platform here). Thanks for tuning in—we're in for an exciting year ahead, and I can't wait to cover it on the show.

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Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com