Tesla Re-Opens Model 3 Premium Configurator in Canada Amid Import Quota Pause

Tesla has made a subtle but notable change to its Canadian Model 3 configurator: the Premium trims are no longer greyed out and can be selected again, even though orders remain paused due to Chinese EV import quota restrictions. Instead of an order button, the site now displays a "Get updates" button that lets customers sign up for availability notifications.

What's happening

On October 12, Tesla stopped accepting orders for the China-built Model 3 Premium after exhausting its allocation under Canada's Chinese EV import quota. Both Premium trims were affected, including the entry-level version priced from $39,490 before the suspension.

As of Friday (October 30), Drive Tesla confirmed that the Premium trims are selectable in the configurator again — but the order button is still absent. The "Get updates" CTA indicates Tesla is collecting interest without promising an immediate restock date.

Context: the quota situation

Global Affairs Canada allocates import slots to automakers in advance. Tesla's executive Iain Myrans has previously explained that the company is told how many vehicles it can expect to import during a given period. As of late October, over 33,000 quota spots remain unused across all Chinese EV imports — not just Tesla — suggesting the bottleneck is on the manufacturer export side rather than a Canadian regulatory ceiling.

The configurator change also follows a brief spec update earlier this week: Tesla temporarily showed the Canadian Model 3 Premium RWD with 584 km range and a 0–100 km/h time of 5.2 seconds (matching the U.S.-built version), before reverting to the previous figures on Tuesday. That back-and-forth had fuelled speculation about a possible return of U.S.-built Model 3s to Canada, but Tesla has not confirmed any such plan.

What this means for buyers

• Canadian buyers can now configure a Model 3 Premium — but cannot yet place an order.
• The "Get updates" signup is the only action available; no deposit or reservation is taken.
• The quota pause is tied to Tesla's own allocation, not a hard regulatory cap — if Tesla secures additional slots, orders could resume without a configurator change.
• The brief spec swap (584 km / 5.2 s) was reverted and should not be read as a confirmed product change.

Looking for EV deals, insurance, or financing? Check out our partner deals and offers.

If you found this guide helpful, use our Tesla referral link for free Supercharging credits on a new Tesla purchase or lease in Canada.