Tesla’s first shipment of German-built Model Y vehicles has officially arrived in Canada. On Saturday one of our readers was on hand as several hundred Model Y vehicles built at Giga Berlin were offloaded at the Dartmouth Autoport in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The batch of electric SUVs marks the automaker’s first direct imports from Europe to Canadian customers. With the vehicles now on Canadian soil, and the first Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) being assigned to customers last week, the first deliveries are expected to begin within the next two weeks, first in eastern Canada due to proximity to Nova Scotia.
Why Tesla Is Importing From Giga Berlin
Tesla’s decision to ship vehicles from its German facility represents a significant change in the automaker’s supply chain logistics. Historically, Canada’s allocation of Model Y units has come from the company’s U.S. Gigafactory in Fremont, California, and for a brief period, Giga Shanghai in China. However, escalating tariffs on Chinese and U.S.-made EVs, 100% and 25% respectively, have shifted the equation.
By sourcing Model Y inventory from Germany, Tesla avoids those steep import penalties while ensuring a stable supply of vehicles to Canadian customers. Giga Berlin, which primarily serves the European market, has scaled up production significantly since its 2022 opening, reaching output levels that now make exports feasible.
For Canadian buyers, this change means access to vehicles at prices lower than if they had been imported from the U.S. or China under the existing tariff regime.
Lower Prices
After the tariffs on U.S.-made vehicles was imposed, Tesla was forced to raise prices on all their vehicles, some by more than $21,000. However, with the change in logistics, Tesla was able to drop the price of the Model Y by $20,000, bringing it to $5,000 below pre-tariff levels.
For many buyers, the Model Y ends up costing about the same as it did before the tariffs, since the $5,000 federal rebate was still available at that time.
Currently only the Model Y Long Range is available to purchase in Canada, and it is priced at $64,990. Despite Giga Berlin recently starting production of the Model Y Performance, this variant is not yet available to purchase in Canada.
Do you have a Model Y from Giga Berlin on order? Let us know in the comments below if you have been assigned a VIN, or when you receive a delivery date.
