Tesla Slashed the Model 3’s Charging Speed in Canada and Called the Old Specs an Error

Tesla has quietly downgraded several key specifications for the Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) in Canada, leading to frustration among customers who recently placed orders.

The changes, which impact charging speed, warranty coverage, and acceleration, appear linked to Tesla’s decision to shift Canadian supply back from Gigafactory Shanghai to qualify for Canada’s new lower tariff on EVs from China.

Charging and Warranty Reductions

The most significant technical changes involve the vehicle’s battery and charging capabilities:

• Charging Speed: Maximum DC fast-charging has been cut from 250 kW down to 175 kW.
• Warranty: The battery and drive unit warranty has been reduced from 192,000 km to 160,000 km.
• Acceleration: The 0–100 km/h time was revised to 5.2 seconds, up from an initial (and reportedly erroneous) listing of 4.2 seconds (we told you about this earlier)

These downgrades are largely due to the use of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry in the Shanghai-built Premium RWD variant, which typically offers lower peak charging speeds and different thermal characteristics compared to the nickel-based batteries previously sourced from the U.S.

Customer Backlash and Tesla’s Response

The quiet revisions have sparked significant backlash on social media, particularly on Reddit’s r/teslacanada community. One customer shared a chat with Tesla support where an agent characterized the previous, higher specifications as an “error on the website” that has since been “corrected.”

Tesla confirmed that the current, lower specifications are accurate for the vehicles being delivered. To address the discrepancy, the company is reportedly offering full refunds of deposits for customers who no longer wish to proceed with their orders under the new terms.

The shift to Chinese-made vehicles follows the 2026 Canola for Cars trade agreement, which lowered tariffs on Chinese EVs to 6.1%. While the new Model 3 Premium RWD is now the most affordable Tesla ever sold in Canada—starting at $39,490 CAD—it no longer qualifies for the $5,000 federal rebate because it is manufactured in a country without a free trade agreement with Canada.