Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Can Canada still compete in an automotive industry increasingly shaped by China—and can it benefit from Chinese EV technology without surrendering Canadian sovereignty?
Michael Liebreich, founder and Senior Contributor to BloombergNEF, Managing Partner of EcoPragma Capital and CEO of Liebreich Associates, joins Tim Burrows to examine Canada’s place in the rapidly changing global EV economy.
Michael explains why Canada can no longer assume its automotive future will simply follow the United States. He identifies areas where Canada can remain competitive, evaluates limited access for Chinese electric vehicles, and outlines the conditions that should accompany Chinese investment in Canadian EV and battery manufacturing.
The conversation also examines:
• How China built its commanding lead in electric vehicles and batteries
• Canada’s potential advantages in critical minerals, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and trusted software
• Whether allowing Chinese EVs into Canada could strengthen competition
• What Canada should demand from Chinese automotive investment
• Why Canadian sovereignty and workforce knowledge must come first
• What EV sceptics misunderstand about technological progress
• Why some EV advocates underestimate consumers’ legitimate needs
• Why innovation—not pressure—will ultimately accelerate EV adoption
WATCH PART 1: youtu.be/ywuro7Pjgp4
ABOUT MICHAEL LIEBREICH
Michael Liebreich is Managing Partner of EcoPragma Capital and CEO of Liebreich Associates. He is the founder and a Senior Contributor to BloombergNEF and the founder and host of Cleaning Up—Leadership in an Age of Climate Change.
Liebreich Associates:
liebreich.com
EcoPragma Capital:
http://www.ecopragma.capital/
Cleaning Up:
http://www.cleaningup.live/
CHAPTERS
00:00 Canada’s old automotive strategy no longer works
00:34 How China planned its rise in electric vehicles
01:10 The 80% prediction that seemed impossible
01:45 China’s advantage in batteries and critical minerals
02:11 Can Western manufacturers catch up?
02:34 Where Canada can compete in the EV supply chain
03:55 Canada’s strengths in semiconductors, AI and trusted software
04:39 Should Canada allow Chinese EVs and investment?
05:20 What Canada could learn from Chinese vehicles
06:55 Canadian sovereignty must come first
07:11 Investment must build knowledge and jobs in Canada
07:43 Can Canada learn from China’s industrial strategy?
08:23 What EV optimists and sceptics are getting wrong
08:50 Why sceptics underestimate technological progress
09:20 When electric trucks are already cheaper than diesel
10:21 Why EV advocates must listen to consumers
10:51 EVs must outperform gasoline vehicles
12:04 The real barriers slowing EV adoption
12:56 Which drivers will be the last to switch?
13:12 Innovation—not pressure—will accelerate adoption
Hosted by Tim Burrows
Produced by the Electric Vehicle Society
evsociety.ca
Subscribe for expert conversations about electric vehicles, batteries, charging, automotive technology and Canadian EV policy.
#ElectricVehicles #CanadaEVs #MichaelLiebreich
Can Canada still compete in an automotive industry increasingly shaped by China—and can it benefit from Chinese EV technology without surrendering Canadian sovereignty?
Michael Liebreich, founder and Senior Contributor to BloombergNEF, Managing Partner of EcoPragma Capital and CEO of Liebreich Associates, joins Tim Burrows to examine Canada’s place in the rapidly changing global EV economy.
Michael explains why Canada can no longer assume its automotive future will simply follow the United States. He identifies areas where Canada can remain competitive, evaluates limited access for Chinese electric vehicles, and outlines the conditions that should accompany Chinese investment in Canadian EV and battery manufacturing.
The conversation also examines:
• How China built its commanding lead in electric vehicles and batteries
• Canada’s potential advantages in critical minerals, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and trusted software
• Whether allowing Chinese EVs into Canada could strengthen competition
• What Canada should demand from Chinese automotive investment
• Why Canadian sovereignty and workforce knowledge must come first
• What EV sceptics misunderstand about technological progress
• Why some EV advocates underestimate consumers’ legitimate needs
• Why innovation—not pressure—will ultimately accelerate EV adoption
WATCH PART 1: youtu.be/ywuro7Pjgp4
ABOUT MICHAEL LIEBREICH
Michael Liebreich is Managing Partner of EcoPragma Capital and CEO of Liebreich Associates. He is the founder and a Senior Contributor to BloombergNEF and the founder and host of Cleaning Up—Leadership in an Age of Climate Change.
Liebreich Associates:
liebreich.com
EcoPragma Capital:
http://www.ecopragma.capital/
Cleaning Up:
http://www.cleaningup.live/
CHAPTERS
00:00 Canada’s old automotive strategy no longer works
00:34 How China planned its rise in electric vehicles
01:10 The 80% prediction that seemed impossible
01:45 China’s advantage in batteries and critical minerals
02:11 Can Western manufacturers catch up?
02:34 Where Canada can compete in the EV supply chain
03:55 Canada’s strengths in semiconductors, AI and trusted software
04:39 Should Canada allow Chinese EVs and investment?
05:20 What Canada could learn from Chinese vehicles
06:55 Canadian sovereignty must come first
07:11 Investment must build knowledge and jobs in Canada
07:43 Can Canada learn from China’s industrial strategy?
08:23 What EV optimists and sceptics are getting wrong
08:50 Why sceptics underestimate technological progress
09:20 When electric trucks are already cheaper than diesel
10:21 Why EV advocates must listen to consumers
10:51 EVs must outperform gasoline vehicles
12:04 The real barriers slowing EV adoption
12:56 Which drivers will be the last to switch?
13:12 Innovation—not pressure—will accelerate adoption
Hosted by Tim Burrows
Produced by the Electric Vehicle Society
evsociety.ca
Subscribe for expert conversations about electric vehicles, batteries, charging, automotive technology and Canadian EV policy.
#ElectricVehicles #CanadaEVs #MichaelLiebreich
