Tesla starts Model 3 launch in Canada, confirms starting price at $45,600 CAD

Tesla is finally starting to launch the Model 3 outside of the US for the first time – starting in Canada as previously announced.

The automaker is starting to send invites for configuration this week and it confirmed the Canadian price.

Earlier this year, Tesla accelerated the planned launch of the Model 3 in Canada from “late 2018” to “mid 2018”.

The automaker confirmed to Electrek that the first invitations to configure are going to Model 3 reservation holders this week with a similar priority that reservation holders experienced in the US: employees first and then current Tesla owners, followed by non-Tesla owners.

If Tesla is starting to take orders, it means that the homologation process with Transport Canada is completed. Deliveries could start as soon as next month if the customer order timeline is the same as the one in the US: ~4 weeks.

The automaker also confirmed the starting price of the Model 3 in Canada.

Tesla’s Canadian prices for the Model S and Model X have often been quite inflated after accounting for the exchange rate, but the automaker’s pricing structure has been improving and tracking closer to the US price recently.

That’s being reflected in the price of the Model 3, which Tesla now says will start at $45,600 CAD – the equivalent of only $350 USD more than in the US.

Of course, Canadian reservation holders will not be able to access that price from the launch since it applies to the standard battery pack, which will not be available in Canada or the US until later this year.

Like in the US, reservation holders have to order the ‘Long Range’ battery pack and it’s not clear if the Dual Motor option will be available, but the option is also shown as “mid-2018” in Canada.

Here’s what I see in my “delivery estimator”:

We will be tracking the launch this week as more information comes out with the configurator.

Update: First look at Tesla Model 3 Canadian configurator with price structure and availability

Electrek’s Take

Good news when it comes to the pricing.

As a current Tesla owner with a day one reservation, I’m told I could expect an invite to configure by the end of the week.

I am very interested to see if I’ll be able to order the Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive option, which should also become available in the US at the same time.

Either way, the “first production” option is a rare example of Tesla meeting a timeline since it’s still kind of early for “mid 2018.”

Personally, I’ll have to wait if the Dual Motor option is not available, but I’m excited as ever to finally get a Model 3.