Tesla has officially started assigning Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) to customers in Canada for the Model Y produced at its Gigafactory Berlin in Grünheide, Germany.
The confirms what we surmised earlier this summer—that Canadian deliveries would soon shift from U.S. supply to European imports as the company works around tariffs.
On Saturday morning a Drive Tesla reader contacted us to let us know that Canadian buyers had begun receiving notifications through the Tesla app that their Model Y VINs have been allocated.
A VIN assignment is typically one of the final steps before delivery, suggesting that shipments from Germany have already begun or are in transit. Deliveries are expected to follow within the next several weeks, aligning with Tesla’s previously listed September–October estimated delivery windows for new orders.
Price Cuts Pointed to Change in Supply Strategy
Signs of this move first appeared in early July when Tesla lowered the price of the Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive in Canada by $20,000, bringing it down to $64,990. The cut put pricing $5,000 below pre-tariff levels.
Alongside the price adjustment, Tesla also introduced the new Diamond Black paint option, which had only been available in the U.S. until then. The combination of pricing changes and expanded options strongly hinted that Tesla would be sourcing Model Y units from Germany’s Gigafactory, which exclusively produces the electric SUV.
Why Canada is Getting Model Y from Berlin
Until recently, Canada primarily received Model Y units from Tesla’s Fremont, California, factory and previously from Giga Shanghai. But with the tariffs effectively blocking imports from China and U.S. production prioritized for domestic demand, Tesla appears to have turned to Germany to keep Canadian sales flowing.
Giga Berlin has been steadily ramping production since opening in 2022, recently hitting milestones such as producing its 100,000th refresh Model Y. With increased output capacity and proximity to major shipping routes, Berlin is well-positioned to serve Canada while balancing supply in Europe.
Boost for Canadian EV Buyers
The news will come as a relief to Canadian customers who were waiting for clarity on delivery timelines after months of pricing uncertainty and supply questions. It also gives Tesla a competitive edge in a market that has seen EV adoption cool due to rising costs and reduced federal and provincial incentives.
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With VINs now being assigned, Canadians can expect to see the first German-built Model Y vehicles on local roads in the coming weeks.
