File photo of a Model 3 in a showroom in Bangkok, Thailand. It is not a Canadian-market vehicle.
Tesla has stopped taking Model 3 Premium orders in Canada
Tesla stopped accepting orders for the Model 3 Premium in Canada on October 12. A banner on Tesla's Canadian order page says: "Model 3 Premium orders paused after high demand exhausted Tesla's import quota. Ordering resumes if Govt of Canada issues more quota, expected March 2027." We checked the page on October 16 and the banner was still there.
The pause covers both Premium trims, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Tesla.ca still lists the Model 3 Performance. Driving.ca reports that the base Premium had been advertised at $39,490 since May and that the Premium is imported from China. Tesla's own page shows only monthly payments, so treat that price as reported, not confirmed by Tesla.
The part that has people talking is the reason. Ottawa's own numbers don't obviously show a quota running dry.
What the China EV quota numbers say
In January 2026, Ottawa agreed to let in 49,000 Chinese-built EVs a year at a 6.1% tariff. Global Affairs Canada says the quota took effect March 1, 2026. Its program page describes it as an initial, country-wide allowance.
Here is the latest utilization report, updated October 9:
| Measure | Vehicles |
|---|---|
| Year 1 quota (March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027) | 49,000 |
| Used so far | 15,931 |
| Remaining | 33,069 |
| Used in the first window (March to August) | 15,603 |
| Used in the second window so far (September only reported) | 328 |
So about a third of the year's quota has been used, and the second window, which began September 1, had seen 328 vehicles when the report was updated. The report doesn't say which companies imported them, so it can't tell you whether any one automaker is near a limit.
Tesla's explanation, and the pushback
Tesla says its own allocation ran out. Several Canadian outlets say the data doesn't match that.
Drive Tesla points out that the public framework doesn't set per-automaker limits. Driving.ca calls the explanation hard to square with the government figures, and suggests Ottawa may be changing how permits are shared.
Tesla Canada's public policy executive, Iain Myrans, wrote on LinkedIn that Ottawa has more say over how permits are distributed than the first-come, first-served setup suggests, according to Drive Tesla. Global Affairs Canada told Drive Tesla it is "consulting with interested companies to optimize remaining quota availability."
We can't settle that from here. Neither Tesla nor the government has published a company-by-company breakdown, and we haven't seen one.
What Tesla.ca lists for the Model 3
These are the Canadian-site figures. Ranges are EPA estimates, not Natural Resources Canada ratings, so a Canadian rating may differ.
| Trim | Drive | Range (EPA est.) | 0 to 100 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | Rear-wheel drive | 584 km | 5.2 s |
| Premium | Dual-motor AWD | 570 km | 4.0 s |
| Performance | Dual-motor AWD | 509 km | 3.1 s |
Cargo volume is listed at 682 litres on all three. Both Premium trims are the ones currently paused.
Photo: Mliu92, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
File photo of a Model 3 with the 2024 updated styling parked next to an earlier Model 3.
Where the federal rebate fits
The federal Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP) pays up to $5,000 on a battery-electric vehicle in 2026. For 2027 the amount drops to $4,000, according to Transport Canada. The vehicle must be made in Canada or in a country with a free-trade agreement with Canada, and the final transaction value can't pass $50,000 unless it's Canadian-made.
Transport Canada also keeps a vehicle list. The Tesla Model Y RWD-B is on it for 2026 and 2027. We found no Model 3 on it when we checked all seven pages on October 16.
Transport Canada says the list is for information only, and a vehicle that isn't on it can still qualify if it meets the criteria and the final transaction value is $50,000 or less. So "not listed" is not the same as "not eligible." Before you count on a rebate for any specific vehicle, ask the dealer or Tesla to confirm it in writing, and use Transport Canada's online eligibility assessment.
EVAP-listed alternatives to shop
If a Premium order was your plan, these Vehonix pages cover models that appear on Transport Canada's list. Being listed doesn't guarantee a rebate on your purchase, because the final transaction value decides that.
- Toyota bZ: the 2026 and 2027 XLE FWD are on the list at $5,000. Vehonix shows the 2026 XLE FWD from $45,990 MSRP, before freight and tax, and an NRCan range of up to 468 km (XLE AWD).
- Toyota C-HR: the electric C-HR SE FWD and XSE AWD are listed at $5,000. Vehonix shows the 2026 SE FWD from $44,900 MSRP, before freight and tax, and an NRCan range of up to 496 km.
- Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: the 2026 Outlander PHEV ES is on the list at $2,500, the plug-in hybrid amount. Mitsubishi Canada's website shows the ES S-AWC from $46,998 MSRP, excluding freight and PDI. Mitsubishi's launch release lists 72 km of electric range.
Also on our radar is Geely, which announced its Canadian entry on October 9. Our Geely Canada article covers what's confirmed: first vehicles are due in 2027, with no Canadian prices yet.
What we don't know yet
- Whether Tesla's pause affects orders already placed. The banner doesn't say.
- Which companies hold the 15,931 permits used so far. The government report doesn't break it down.
- Whether Ottawa will change how it hands out the remaining 33,069 spots, or when.
- Tesla's official Canadian price for the Premium trims. The $39,490 figure is from Driving.ca and Drive Tesla.
Vehonix hasn't driven or tested a Model 3. This article uses published figures from the sources linked below, and we'll update it when Tesla or Global Affairs Canada says more.
FAQ
Why did Tesla pause Model 3 Premium orders in Canada? Tesla's website says high demand used up its import quota. Several outlets note that government data shows most of the 49,000-vehicle quota still unused, and Global Affairs Canada says it is consulting automakers on the remaining quota.
Can I still order a Model 3 in Canada? Tesla.ca still lists the Model 3 Performance. The two Premium trims are paused, and Tesla says ordering is expected to resume in March 2027.
How many Chinese EVs can Canada import? 49,000 a year at a 6.1% tariff. As of October 9, 15,931 had been used and 33,069 remained.
Is the Model 3 eligible for the federal EV rebate? It isn't on Transport Canada's EVAP vehicle list. A vehicle can still qualify if it meets the program criteria, so check eligibility for the exact vehicle before you buy.
Sources
- Tesla Canada, Model 3 order page and Model 3 specifications, viewed October 16, 2026
- Global Affairs Canada, Electric vehicle imports from China and the utilization report, updated October 9, 2026
- Transport Canada, EVAP overview and vehicle list
- Drive Tesla, "Tesla Pauses Model 3 Premium Orders in Canada", October 12, 2026, and "Tesla Canada Explains Model 3 Import Quota Restrictions"
- Driving.ca, "Tesla to pause Canadian sales of cheaper, Chinese-built Model 3s", October 13, 2026
- Mitsubishi Motors Canada, Outlander PHEV page and launch release, March 9, 2026
- Photos: Chanokchon and Mliu92, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons