Tesla's Love Letter to Canada Could Have a Deeper Meaning

Tesla is considering opening a Gigafactory in Canada

Tesla

Tesla's love for Canada is more evident than ever. A recent email to owners showcases the company's commitment to sustainability and its positive impact on Canada's economy and the environment. The email comes at the same time as Canada committed millions to more charging stations and rolled out its first electric vehicle, a Tesla Model Y, to the country's police force.

Remember, Canada is on the shortlist for a new Giga factory, and these are positive signs that North America may be getting another Tesla-producing super plant. Despite Elon Musk being half Canadian and previously suggesting a Canadian location, he will go to the country, province/state, and city that offers the best strategic location, the most tax incentives, and a skilled workforce.

While recent developments have pointed at a new factory in Mexico, Tesla has previously stated they plan to have 10-12 really big factories that will allow them to produce up to 20 million vehicles annually.

Overview of Tesla's recent email to Canadian owners

Interestingly, the wording in the Tesla email says, "a recent economic impact assessment conducted by Enviro Economics quantified Tesla's impact on the Canadian economy. However, EnviroEconomics states that Tesla asked the company to "assess the economic impact of their Canadian operations and spending, as well as the emission reductions and operational fuel savings associated with Tesla vehicles in Canada."

Why would Tesla want that information unless the company is deep in conversations with Canadian officials? This new information may be the next phase to win over public support for a Tesla Gigafactory development.

Analysis of Tesla's Impact on the Canadian Economy

The numbers make a compelling case for Canada to do whatever it can to encourage a Gigafactory in the Great White North. Tesla spending in Canada has grown by 25% year-over-year between 2018 and 2021. The expenditure was widespread, with 51 economic sectors benefiting from Tesla's investment in automotive parts, charging stations, manufacturing, and retail operations.

Tesla's total contribution to Canadian GDP in 2021 was $762 million, and the company contributed to 6,645 full-time jobs in the country, including 3,100 direct jobs due to its operations and spending. The direct employment impact was equivalent to 3% of all jobs in the auto parts manufacturing sector.

Benefits of Tesla's vehicles in Canada

Canada recently introduced new targets for manufacturers' and importers' vehicles. The regulations state that 20 percent of new cars sold in Canada will be zero emission by 2026, at least 60 percent by 2030, and 100 percent by 2035. There are more than 145,000 Teslas in Canada, including a new Model Y, as part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police force. It's the first electric vehicle in the fleet and part of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. Canada also announced a $15 million investment in 2,350 EV chargers.

According to the study, the benefits of Tesla's vehicles in Canada extend beyond the economy. Between 2018 and 2021, Tesla's vehicles helped avoid 583,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions. Additionally, Tesla owners in Canada saved an estimated $113 million in 2021 in transportation fuel, equivalent to $1,259 in savings per vehicle.

Canada's Commitment to Sustainability and the Future of Tesla in the Country

Tesla's recent email highlighting the company's impact on the country could signify deeper discussions with Canadian officials. The numbers make a strong case for Canada to encourage the establishment of a Tesla Gigafactory in the country. Tesla's spending and contributions to the Canadian economy have grown significantly over the past few years, and its vehicles have helped reduce carbon emissions and save millions in transportation fuel.

The recent announcement of Canada's new zero-emission vehicle targets, investment in EV chargers, and the addition of a Tesla Model Y to the police force all point to the country's commitment to sustainability. Tesla sees an exciting future ahead in Canada and is poised to continue advancing its mission of transitioning the world to sustainable energy.

Follow

Follow

Follow

Tesla’s New Signal Viewer Panel in Service Mode+ Allows You to View Real-Time Data

@scotsrule08 on X

Tesla’s latest software update, version 2025.2, brings new features to Service Mode, continuing the trend of improving in-vehicle diagnostics.

Currently, this feature is only available for vehicles with AMD Ryzen infotainment systems and requires Service Mode+, which is a subscription service aimed at technicians. Intel-powered vehicles aren’t supported yet, but we expect this feature to roll out to them as well unless hardware limitations prevent it.

Thanks to Spencer for providing an image of the panel in action.

Signal Viewer Panel

While update 2025.2.6 adds four service mode improvements, including updates to brake burnishing, charge port calibration, and noise recording panel improvements. In this article, we’ll focus on the new signal viewer panel.

This new panel offers a live data feed from selectable vehicle sensors. You select the signals you’re interested in and it’ll plot the signal on a graph. In addition to allowing you to view real-time signal data, it also allows you to record them.

The signals are searchable and can be easily added or removed from the panel. You can track up to 10 sensors, and the UI allows three of them to be viewable at once.

However, this is Service Mode and it’s more than just pretty looks. You can really dig down into these charts. You can pan them left and right through time, and tapping a specific point shows the exact value of that signal. The panel also supports pinch-to-zoom, enabling you to adjust the time scale across all panels simultaneously.

This feature is exclusive to Service Mode+, which requires a subscription to Tesla’s ToolBox3 software and a connection to a computer. It’s designed to help technicians diagnose issues related to signal quality, noise in the vehicle’s electrical systems, and signal variance in components during driving.

We’re excited to see Tesla’s continued focus on repairability, especially with additions like the Cybertruck’s Interactive Wiring Diagram and the launch of the Tesla Online Parts Catalog, which lets customers purchase parts directly.

Plus, with the reduced cost of ToolBox 3 subscriptions, even DIY enthusiasts now have access to tools that make Tesla repairs more accessible.

Follow

Follow

Follow

Tesla Introduces New Model Y Variants in Europe; Ends Launch Series

Not a Tesla App

Tesla has updated its Model Y lineup in Europe, introducing new standard configurations while discontinuing the limited-edition Launch Series. With the new variants now available, European customers will have more choices and cheaper options to pick from.

The Launch Series and some of its exclusive features will no longer be offered—except in the UK, where it remains available alongside the new lineup.

New Models Introduced

Tesla’s new Model Y lineup in Europe includes three main variants. The prices vary slightly from country to country.

• Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD): Priced at €44,990, this model is the most affordable new Model Y, but it also has the shortest range and is missing a few features available on other trim levels.

• Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive (LR RWD): Available for €49,990, this version is essentially the same as the RWD model, but with a larger battery. It has seen a €1,000 price increase compared to the outgoing Long Range RWD model.

• Long Range All-Wheel Drive (LR AWD): At €52,990, this model has seen a price drop of €2,000, making it a better deal than the previous LR AWD Model Y. This is also the only new Model Y to come with most of the same features as the Launch Series, including additional speakers, a subwoofer, premium materials inside the cabin and improved acceleration. Acceleration boost should also become available for this model, letting it match the performance of the Launch Series.

All Model Y variants come with all the improvements that we’ve discussed about the new Model Y, including the new front and rear light bars, improved aerodynamics, ventilated seats, improved heat and sound isolation, and the 8-inch rear touchscreen. Some exclusive options, like the Midnight Cherry Red paint, appear to no longer be available. However, Tesla has already said that they’ll be introducing new paint options for the Model Y in North America.

Compare Model Y Variants

Here’s how the various Model Y variants compare to each other:

Launch Series Ends

Not a Tesla App

The Launch Series, which debuted just weeks ago in Europe, has now been phased out. This limited-edition model was priced at €60,990 and included a suite of premium features comparable to a bundle deal you may find with other products. It came equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD), Acceleration Boost, and exclusive badging on the rear liftgate, door sill plates, and puddle lights.

While the Launch Series is no longer available for new orders in most European countries, customers can still get a similar vehicle by opting for the Long Range AWD model and manually adding premium features like FSD. Acceleration Boost, which was standard in the Launch Series, is expected to become available for purchase once these vehicles are delivered or soon afterward. However, some exclusive elements, such as badging and trim details, will remain unique to the discontinued edition.

For now, the UK remains an exception, still offering the Launch Series alongside the newly introduced models.

Performance Model Still to Come

With Tesla now introducing the expected variants of the refreshed Model Y, one notable absence is the Performance model. While the Launch Series was fast due to the Acceleration Boost addon, there’s no doubt the Performance version will be in a league of its own.

What we saw Tesla do with the 2024+ Model 3 Performance variant was more than just using binned motors. The vehicle featured unique bumpers, a spoiler, an improved suspension, sport seats, Track Mode V3 and other features that made the vehicle stand out compared to the Model 3 AWD.

The Performance version of the new Model Y is expected to become available later this year, however, expect it to carry a $5-$8k premium over the AWD model.

Other Regions to Follow

As Europe phases out the Launch Series, other regions are expected to see similar changes. With the other models now revealed, owners in other regions have a better idea of whether they should buy the Launch Series or wait for the additional models to arrive.

Tesla naturally adjusts its offerings based on market demand, and if sales of the Launch Series remain strong in other parts of the world, Tesla will likely wait it out a little longer before offering the other models.

Follow

Follow

Follow