Tesla can’t seem to figure out the power of its new cheap Model 3

Tesla has changed the 0-100 km/h acceleration spec on its new $39,490 CAD Model 3 Premium RWD in Canada for a second in less than three weeks. The car now lists a 6.2-second sprint — two full seconds slower than the 4.2 seconds Tesla advertised at launch on May 1.

The repeated spec changes on the Shanghai-built sedan — from 4.2s to 5.2s and now 6.2s — are raising legitimate consumer concerns.

A timeline of shrinking specs

When Tesla launched the new Model 3 Premium RWD in Canada at the beginning of May, the configurator listed impressive specs: 463 km of range, a 0-100 km/h time of 4.2 seconds, and 250 kW peak DC charging. The $39,490 CAD price — roughly $29,000 USD — was a record low for the Model 3 in Canada, made possible by sourcing from Giga Shanghai under the new 6.1% tariff deal with China.

Within 48 hours, Tesla quietly revised the acceleration to 5.2 seconds, calling the original 4.2-second figure a “website error.” The charging speed was also cut from 250 kW to 175 kW, and the battery warranty was reduced from 192,000 km to 160,000 km. Tesla told customers who inquired that the previous specs had been posted in error.