Canadian Model 3 LR Origin?

[Craig80]

Hello,

I am new here. I keep reading that Canadian Model 3 "Highlands" are from Shanghai and are amazing quality compares to Fremont made cars.

My Tesla rep out of Kirchener, Ontario said only the RWD highlands are from China. The LR models are all coming from Fremont. I am having a Tesla charger and 200 amp upgrade installed Wedneday to prepare for ordering an M3 LR. I am now concerned about poor quality as I understood originally none were from Fremont. How worried should I be? Has quality improved? Also waiting for quiksilver to be released which should be soon.

Regards,

Craig

 

[Dear_OP]

Check VIN. If it starts with 5, then it's Fremont. You roll the dice. Unfortunately the general sentiment is that Fremont build quality has yet to improve to the same level as Giga Shanghai. California also has tougher emissions laws that affect paint applications there at Fremont.
But what can you do right?

 

[Craig80]

The rep told me only SR come from Shanghai. It sucks. I will inspect it well before accepting.

 

[Icicles]

This site deciphers Tesla VIN quite well imo: Tesla VIN Decoder - Model S, 3, X, Y

Basically reading backwards, the first letter you see after the numbers is the place of manufacture. C means China.

The last time I looked, only the 3's are from Shanghai, and the rest are from the US.

Regarding quality, I wonder if walking around the lot and checking the quality in person would help? It proved to me that 3's and Y's are better built than S and X at least.

 

[hydro]

Don't you worry. I had the same apprehension from reading all that is written about it. We purchased a Freemont built Y in march and it's perfect. Also, the batteries on the long range are made in Nevada by Panasonic and have a higher density than the Chinese ones (higher range). We also have a 2013 S bought new in 2013 and it's paint still looks great and the batteries are truly impressive (also made by Panasonic in Nevada).

Cheers

 

[Dear_OP]

You can read about the many niggling quality issues with Fremont built Teslas. They range from paint to trims to interior squeaks. Many of these issues do not rear its head until some time into ownership. It really depends on how picky you are too.

At the end of the day, if you want an LR just get it. You can inspect the vehicle at delivery. There's warranty that you can rely on.

 

[Muskol]

Friend picked up a Long Range Highland 3 weeks ago at Lawrence and it was MIC with a LRW VIN.

 

[Craig80]

Friend picked up a Long Range Highland 3 weeks ago at Lawrence and it was MIC with a LRW VIN.

Where is Lawrence? I find it odd the tesla rep said china for LR models... I wonder if it's due to my specific area of Canada.. it's the Kitchener/Waterloo location.

 

[Muskol]

Where is Lawrence? I find it odd the tesla rep said china for LR models... I wonder if it's due to my specific area of Canada.. it's the Kitchener/Waterloo location.

North York.

 

[Dear_OP]

I used to think Lawrence was just a TTC station.

 

[MLXXXp]

Where is Lawrence?

North York.

Specifically, 1325 Lawrence Ave E, North York, ON M3A 1C6

Tesla · 1325 Lawrence Ave E, North York, ON M3A 1C6, Canada

âââââ · Tesla showroom

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[StrykerFoxx]

My 2023 RWD is from china and the build quality is pretty bad with lots of rattles and squeeks all over different parts of the interior. Hard to imagine freemont is even worse.

 

[Biscuitman]

Nice thing about buying one built in California is you know that there are no human rights issues with the workers

 

[Dear_OP]

Let's not bring in geo-politics. We all have blood on our hands. It gets messy fast.

 

[Megaton]

Where is Lawrence? I find it odd the tesla rep said china for LR models... I wonder if it's due to my specific area of Canada.. it's the Kitchener/Waterloo location.

Your rep was wrong. 100% of new Model 3s coming to Canada at present are made in China at Giga Shanghai. Same for RWD, LR, and Performance. It is not specific to city or province. There are no Fremont 3s incoming until Trudeau puts in tariffs on Chinese-made cars. Tesla needs 100% of their Fremont cars domestically in the US to qualify for rebates and cannot spare them to waste on Canada for no reason.

For the 2024 Model 3, I believe just the first few, e.g. demo vehicles for sales centres, were Fremonts.

As an anecdote, my 2024 Model 3 LR (picked up in Ottawa a month ago) has spectacular build quality with no issues compared to my 2022 RWD made in Fremont which had tons of issues. There are a handful of reports of bad Shanghai vehicles but by and large it's vastly superior to the quality out of Fremont. Fremont has gotten better over the years especially with the Highland refresh but still not to the Shanghai level.

 

[cdswm3]

Your rep was wrong. 100% of new Model 3s coming to Canada at present are made in China at Giga Shanghai. Same for RWD, LR, and Performance. It is not specific to city or province. There are no Fremont 3s incoming until Trudeau puts in tariffs on Chinese-made cars. Tesla needs 100% of their Fremont cars domestically in the US to qualify for rebates and cannot spare them to waste on Canada for no reason.

For the 2024 Model 3, I believe just the first few, e.g. demo vehicles for sales centres, were Fremonts.

As an anecdote, my 2024 Model 3 LR (picked up in Ottawa a month ago) has spectacular build quality with no issues compared to my 2022 RWD made in Fremont which had tons of issues. There are a handful of reports of bad Shanghai vehicles but by and large it's vastly superior to the quality out of Fremont. Fremont has gotten better over the years especially with the Highland refresh but still not to the Shanghai level.

Tesla does not have a supply issue on cars at the current time. Both factories are running far below maximum production. That is not why Tesla cars sold in Canada are from China. The reason I believe if production cost in China are cheaper.

 

[Dear_OP]

Tesla does not have a supply issue on cars at the current time. Both factories are running far below maximum production. That is not why Tesla cars sold in Canada are from China. The reason I believe if production cost in China are cheaper.

Giga Shanghai is at max capacity.

One should rather question why is Fremont cost is higher yet producing poorer quality vehicles?

 

[GregoryK]

Here's my perspective:
I had a 2021 M3 SR+ from Fermont it was honestly decent. No complaints on the panel gaps or the paint finish.
Just picked up a 2024 LR built in China (LRW - First letters in VIN) - The paint is not as good as Fermont. There are rattles behind the dash. This is a much-improved model in every way but I would say don't sweat it - all is not perfect in China!

 

[03DSG]

Hello,

I am new here. I keep reading that Canadian Model 3 "Highlands" are from Shanghai and are amazing quality compares to Fremont made cars.

My Tesla rep out of Kirchener, Ontario said only the RWD highlands are from China. The LR models are all coming from Fremont. I am having a Tesla charger and 200 amp upgrade installed Wedneday to prepare for ordering an M3 LR. I am now concerned about poor quality as I understood originally none were from Fremont. How worried should I be? Has quality improved? Also waiting for quiksilver to be released which should be soon.

Regards,

Craig

I have a very early CDN 2018 Model 3 RWD from Fremont. Zero build quality issues. None. The only issues I had were early model run issues way back. Two new headlights, a new drive unit and new front upper control arms. Zero since. All under warranty. My total personal maintenance cost to date is under $200. Cabin filters and wipers. 70,000 km. Current max range 480 km.

I did however have full frontal PPF done including mirror backs, head and fog lamps.

 

[cdswm3]

Giga Shanghai is at max capacity.

One should rather question why is Fremont cost is higher yet producing poorer quality vehicles?

American plants always operate at higher cost than China. Wage differences and regulations are a big part of that difference.