Tesla has reportedly sent emails to Canadian customers who had placed orders for the Fremont-made Model Y Long Range, informing them that their orders have been canceled. According to Drive Tesla Canada, the email states that the ordered configuration is no longer available, although it does not specify which configuration that refers to. Affected customers will receive a refund of their deposit.
However, Tesla is providing an alternative option for Canadian customers by allowing them to switch their orders to other available configurations. This includes the newly introduced Model Y Long Range manufactured at Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory in China. The Chinese-made variant offers a range of 309 miles (497 kilometers) on a full charge and is equipped with the standard 19-inch Gemini wheels.
While the Fremont-made Model Y Long Range boasts an EPA-estimated range of 330 miles (531 km), switching to the Chinese-made model does not provide a significant upgrade in terms of range for affected customers. Additionally, both models have the same starting price of $69,990 CAD. However, Drive Tesla Canada points out that there are certain benefits to opting for an imported Tesla.
It appears that the Shanghai-made Model Ys feature a slightly smaller 79-kilowatt-hour battery pack manufactured by LG, in contrast to the 82-kWh Panasonic pack used in the Fremont-made models. Consequently, the Chinese-made variant offers a slightly shorter driving range and slower charging speeds. However, it has demonstrated better performance in cold weather and slower degradation compared to the Panasonic-made packs.
It is worth noting that reports from November 2022 initially indicated Tesla’s intention to export Shanghai-made vehicles to North America. Subsequently, it was reported that a second shipment was en route to Canada in May of this year.
In the United States, the $7,500 tax credit can only be applied to vehicles assembled in North America. However, Canada’s incentive scheme does not have such restrictions.
