Tesla Expects 200,000th U.S. Sale This Year, EV Tax Credits to Start Phaseout

[Vlad Kovalenko + 115]

What will happen when a carmaker reaches the cap on U.S. sales of electric cars that qualify for the full federal tax credit of $7,500? That number is 200,000; after the rest of that calendar quarter and the one following, the credit is halved for a further two quarters. Rough calculations indicate that Tesla is likely to reach that total first, followed by General Motors and Nissan in that order.

[Adam Varga + 123]

So with another 35,000-40,000 units left until reaching the 200K US sale, we can expect the mark to be reached in Q2. 

[Selva + 252]

I don't think so, considering their plan on shipping to Canada in Q2  to avoid these 200,000 before 1st of July. 

[Adam Varga + 123]

Isn't that a fiscal fraud? Or at least an ice-thin legal issue. Purposely divert sales to non incentivized markets to extend local incentives with the purpose to increase future sales, and of course, profits. 

[Selva + 252]

Does fiscal fraud even exist? Nobody is taking advantage of tax payer's money, they are taking a lawful tax credit that phases out when a manufacturer delivers their 200,000 electric vehicle in the US. 

[Vlad Kovalenko + 115]

Tesla is perfectly free to sell as many cars as they want in Canada instead of the US in order to to avoid delivering their 200,000th car in the US in Q2. 

[Selva + 252]

And Tesla is not the only manufacturer to be about to reach the 200,000 mark. Other manufacturers could also use this tactic. And probably will.