Tesla urges Canadian customers to buy pre-tariff priced inventory while supplies last
Elon Musk’s Tesla is urging Canadian customers to buy cars at pre-tariff rates “while supplies last” as it moves to hike prices in response to President Trump’s trade war.The electric car giant’s website in Canada displayed a banner message on Monday which said “explore pre-tariff priced inventory while supplies last.” The ad first appeared for Tesla customers over the weekend.President Trump’s 25% tariffs on imported cars and car parts remains in effect even after his administration implemented a 90-day pause on most tariffs earlier this month.Canada retaliated with its own 25% tariff on US car imports.A Tesla sales rep at one Toronto-area dealership said the pre-tariff prices apply to all models for vehicles that were already imported to Canada before the tariff hikes took effect.
Once those cars are sold out, customers will have to pay higher prices — as much as 22% for some models, according to data compiled by the car blog Drive Tesla.For example, the all-wheel drive edition of the Cybertruck now costs C$139,990 ($101,250 in US dollars) – up by C$25,000 ($18,000) compared to its old price of C$114,990 ($83,169).Tesla’s long-range Model 3 sedan in Canada jumped 16% to C$79,990 ($57,855), while the long-range Model Y SUV is 21% more expensive at C$84,990 ($61,471).The price hikes are coming during a tough time for Tesla, which is in the midst of a sales slump.
Tesla’s vehicle deliveries – a close proxy for sales – plunged by 13% in the first quarter.The company’s net profit sank by a whopping 71% over the same three-month period.Analysts have attributed its struggles to a PR crisis triggered by Musk’s work with the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, as well as an aging car lineup and tough competition from rivals like Chinese firm BYD.Tesla dealerships have faced a wave of protests and even arson attacks since the start of the year.During the company’s earnings call last week, Musk said that the “m...