Tesla has started emailing customers in Canada with existing orders for a Model Y Long Range made at Fremont, notifying them that their order is being cancelled. The emails come a few weeks after Tesla started importing the electric SUVs into Canada from China.
According to a copy of the email sent to customers on Friday, Tesla says their configuration is no longer available and as a result their order is being cancelled and a refund of the deposit is being issued. Although the email doesn’t explain what configuration is no longer available, it is the Model Y Long Range made at Fremont that comes with a 531km (330 mile) range.
Tesla is giving these customers an option however, stating they can update their order to another configuration, including the newly offered Model Y Long Range built at Giga Shanghai. As we have previously reported, this variant isn’t as long range as it used to be and now travels 497km (309 miles) on a full charge when equipped with the standard 19″ Gemini wheels.
Customers who don’t want to lose their spot in line must update their vehicle design by June 23, 2023.
Although it is confusing, here’s what we know about the differences between the Chinese-made Model Y Long Range and the one built at the Fremont factory in California, and why the range has dropped by 34km. The difference is the battery pack, and despite what you may have heard or read online, it is not a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack. Many media outlets have falsely reported this Model Y now contains LFP cells, which would somewhat offset the lower range due to the ability to charge to 100% on a daily basis.
This is not the case however, as we have been able to confirm with our sources it now comes with a smaller 79kWh LG battery pack, still with 2170 cells. This compares to the previous 82kWh packs from Panasonic that are included on Fremont-made Model Ys. Based on reports from Europe, which has for years received cars built in China, it also charges slower, but it has better performance in cold weather and degrades slower than the Panasonic packs.
If you are really set on buying a Model Y from Fremont with 531km of range, you can look at existing inventory, but as of writing they are only available in 7-seater configurations, and mostly with 20″ Induction wheels, which lowers the range to 512km.
Although Tesla is also now importing the Model 3 Long Range and Model Y Performance into Canada from China, both with lower ranges than previously, we have not heard of similar emails being sent to customers with orders for either of these vehicles. If you have, reach out to us at tips@driveteslacanada.ca.
Here is a full copy of the email, shared with us by one of our readers.
