Summary
The Trump transition team plans to dismantle key support for the US electric vehicle (EV) market by eliminating the $7,500 federal EV tax credit and diverting funds from EV charging stations to securing battery materials as a “national-defense issue.”
This marks a major shift from Biden’s policies, which prioritized rapid EV adoption and a domestic battery supply chain.
The plan includes imposing tariffs on battery parts and materials globally, with possible exemptions for allies.
These changes are expected to slow US EV growth, further widening the gap with Europe and China.
So why does Musk want this?
Tesla is a beacon for the right wing now. They’ll pay any amount to drive around in a symbol of Trump support.
Tesla wont be selling cars anymore. They’ll be shoving out “self driving” robotaxis instead.
Same price as Uber without the pesky need for paying drivers.
same reason most magas support donvict in the first place… it hurts others more than he thinks would hurt himself or his own company.
and, they’re probably working on some way to target tesla for some multi-billion dollar government handouts that only it would qualify for, or to exclude old spice’s companies from any new tariffs or taxes.
“With possible exemptions for allies”
Musk is set with the contracts that’ll come in to SpaceX. Tesla has been a low priority for a while now.
He also canned the entire supercharger team this past year. In a different timeline, the supercharger network might have been Tesla’s most enduring legacy as other manufacturers catch up. But chargers aren’t very interesting, and Elon doesn’t like anything unless it’s flashy (and fashy).
He rehired them after he got over his temper tantrum though. He started rehiring them less than a week after he fired them.
I just hope those employees that got rehired were able to lock in pay raises, bonuses, etc. for Musks childish behavior.
He rehired them a few weeks later.
Tesla is Musk’s cash cow though
He’s been known to tank good, profitable ideas before.
Not when they keep burning people alive. That’s got to impact sales somewhat.
Have you seen Tesla stock lately? It’s way up. Elon Musk is worth over $400 billion these days largely because of Tesla.
Tesla’s value is about getting investors to buy into speculation and false promises, and has very little to do with their ability to sell cars.
Or design them. Or build them. Or repair them.