Canadians hoping to pick up Tesla’s most affordable car will have to wait. Tesla has stopped taking new orders for the Model 3 Premium in Canada. Both the Rear-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive trims are now greyed out in the Canadian online configurator, and Tesla says ordering may not reopen until March 2027.
A banner that appeared on Tesla’s Canadian design page on Monday, October 12, reads: “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.” The change was first spotted by TeslaNorth and Drive Tesla Canada, and has since been covered by Driving.ca and Automotive News.
What’s affected
- Model 3 Premium RWD: paused. It had been advertised from $39,490 since May 2026.
- Model 3 Premium AWD: paused. This is the dual-motor version Tesla added in June.
- Model 3 Performance: still available from $74,990. It’s built in the U.S., so it isn’t subject to the China import quota.
The Premium trims sold in Canada are built at Giga Shanghai. Canada’s agreement with China, which took effect March 1, 2026, lets 49,000 Chinese-built vehicles a year enter at a 6.1% tariff instead of the earlier 100% surtax. The quota year runs from March to February, which explains Tesla’s March 2027 date.
The numbers don’t quite add up
Here’s the puzzle. According to Global Affairs Canada’s utilization report (updated October 9), only 15,931 of the 49,000 permits had been used since March. That leaves about 33,069 still available. Only 328 vehicles had come in under the second quota window, which opened September 1.
So why is Tesla out? Tesla’s banner refers to “Tesla’s import quota,” which suggests a company-specific allocation rather than the national total. Ottawa has kept the right to manage the quota for “equitable access” and to set aside permits for other automakers. No Tesla-only cap has been published, though, and Tesla, which no longer has a PR department, hasn’t explained further. Driving.ca suggests Tesla may have revealed a new Ottawa allocation plan before the government announced it.
Some questions are still open. Tesla hasn’t said whether existing, undelivered Premium orders are affected or whether any Premium inventory cars are left for sale. If you’re shopping, check the inventory page and talk to your local Tesla advisor soon. Leftover stock could be the only way to get a sub-$40K Model 3 before spring.
Did you get your Premium order in before the cutoff, or are you now looking at a Model Y or a used Model 3? Join Canada’s most active Tesla community, 17,000+ Ontario owners, in our Facebook group and share what you’re planning.