Tesla Prepares to Sell US-Built Model 3s in Canada Again, Despite Tariffs

Tesla Canada has updated the Model 3 Premium Rear-Wheel Drive on its website with specs matching the Fremont-built Long Range RWD, which was sold in Canada two years ago. The new specs include 584 km of range and a 0-100 km/h time of 5.2 seconds, differing from the Shanghai-built version’s 463 km and 6.2 seconds. This change suggests Tesla is preparing to sell US-built Model 3s in Canada again, despite the 25% counter-tariffs on US-made vehicles. The tariffs, in place since April 2025, previously pushed Tesla to raise prices and eventually switch to Shanghai-built models. If Tesla applies a similar markup to a Fremont-built Premium RWD, it would land around $65,000 to $67,000, above the $50,000 transaction cap of Canada’s new $5,000 EV Affordability Program. The move is seen as a stopgap measure, as Tesla had a successful run with the $39,490 Model 3, which is no longer available due to quota issues. The only Model 3 currently available in Canada is the Performance, priced at $74,990.