Tesla Motors blocks importation of used Model S in Canada
A question has been asked to TESLA MOTORS regarding the importation of used Model S in Canada.
I learned today that Tesla motors did ask Transport Canada to remove from the admissible vehicle list of the Canadian Registrar of Imported Vehicles the Model S. The model S was in this list since june 2014. This creates an effective administrative barrier against the possibility to import in Canada a used Model S originally purchased in the States. As the US and Canada has tightly coupled economies, and movements between the borders are quite common, blocking the importation of the model S is not a good news for any owner.
The RIV website does not indicate any more the model S as an admissible car, and has the following Notes where I cut and paste their text:
Note-1: Please contact the manufacturer prior to importation to determine the exact nature and cost of modifications required. Possible modifications may include: daytime running lamps configuration, electronic immobilization system [EIS], metric odometer and speedometer configuration. Note-2: Tesla Motors has informed Transport Canada that Tesla service centers are currently not in a position to support the substantial modifications required to bring U.S. Model S vehicles into compliance with Canadian requirements. Contact the manufacturer for further details.
Note-2 is disturbing: Tesla service centers cannot support the modifications required to bring US model S into compliance.
Does also that means that they could not offer a proper warranty support?
Note-1 indicates that the modifications required would be the DRL (software), EIS (software), metric odometer (software or owner configuration). Note-2 terminates with “Contact the manufacturer for further details.”
Could Tesla provide further details, to help their customers understand what is this matter about ?
On the surface, this flies in the face of the “increase the use of EVs” universal phylosphy stated many times by Mr Musk.
I believe its incumbant on them that TESLA clarify how this barrier is a benefit to Canadian EV purchasers.
Grampa Dave Connell
Founder: Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association (MEVA)
I’ve been asking around and can’t get an answer from anyone. There is no reasonable explanation that I can think of. There are some bilingual stickers and the red buttons on the seatbelts. You have to press a button to change the speedo to kph from mph and that’s it. They already have daytime run lights and an imobilizer so what else is there.
Third Brake light in rear?
My thought is Tesla wants to control the price of the up and coming lease returns. If the market can be flooded with used US models they loose this ability.
there goes the free-trade agreement! Canadians are again victimized…