kaz
Diamond Member
- Dec 1, 2010
- 78,025
- 22,327
So when you look at all the stupid market manipulations that government does, how is it that at no point does it ever dawn on you that the problem is ... government?It's a win, win? Tesla still gets to fuck over the tax payers too!
First, theres the $7500 taxback bonus that every buyer gets and every taxpayer pays. Then there are generous state subsidies ($2500 in California, $4000 in Illinoisthe bluer the state, the more the taxpayers get gouged), all paid to people forking out $63K (plus taxes) for the base version, to roughly $100K for the really quick one.
Tesla didnt generate a profit by selling sexy cars, but rather by selling sleazy emissions credits, mandated by the state of Californias electric vehicle requirements. The competition, like Honda, doesnt have a mass market plug-in to meet the mandate and therefore must buy the credits from Tesla, the only company that does. The bill for last quarter was $68 million. Absent this shakedown of potential car buyers, Tesla would have lost $57 million, or $11,400 per car. As the company sold 5,000 cars in the quarter, though, $13,600 per car was paid by other manufacturers, who are going to pass at least some of that cost on to buyers of their products. Folks in the new car market are likely paying a bit more than simply the direct tax subsidy.