Tesla has stopped accepting orders for the Model 3 Premium in Canada, claiming strong demand has exhausted its allocation under the federal government’s Chinese electric vehicle import quota.
However, the latest government figures tell a different story, showing that nearly the entire quota remains available.
A new message on Tesla’s Canadian website appeared on Monday afternoon, saying:
“Model 3 Premium orders paused after high demand exhausted Tesla’s import quota. Ordering resumes if Govt of Canada issues more quota, expected March 2027.”
As a result, both Premium variants are now unavailable to order, including the Rear-Wheel Drive model starting at $39,490.
The Model 3 Performance, which is sourced from the United States, remains available at $74,990.
Government figures raise questions
According to Global Affairs Canada’s latest utilization report, updated October 9, just 328 vehicles have been imported under the second quota window, which began September 1.
That leaves 33,069 of the available 33,397 allocations unused, or approximately 99%.
Tesla’s explanation raises questions because Canada’s import framework does not currently set individual manufacturer limits.
Under Notice to Importers No. 1168, permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible importers. While the government has reserved the ability to introduce manufacturer-specific allocations, no such restrictions have been announced.
We have reached out to Global Affairs Canada for clarification and will update this article when we get a response.
Canada’s agreement with China, which took effect March 1, allows 49,000 vehicles annually to enter at a reduced 6.1% tariff. Just 15,931 allocations have been used since the program began.
Why March 2027?
Tesla’s reference to March 2027 coincides with the beginning of the next quota year on March 1.
However, with over 33,000 allocations still available, it remains unclear why Tesla would need to wait until then to resume orders.
For now, Canadian buyers hoping to order the more affordable Model 3 Premium are left waiting, despite government data suggesting plenty of import capacity remains.
Prior to this message appearing, Tesla updated the Model 3 with several upgrades, including black headliner, a larger display, and more. But one feature missing was still Vehicle-to-Load (V2L).
Related Articles:
- Tesla Model 3 Prices in Canada Slashed, Now Starting at $39,490
- Canada May Cap Tesla’s Access to 49,000 Chinese EV Import Quota
- Canada’s Chinese EV Quota Ends First Window With Nearly 9,000 Spots Unused
- Tesla Already Takes Over 10% of Canada’s Chinese-EV Import Quota in First Window
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