Can Elon Musk Be Weaned Off Government Support? (thehill.com)

mi shares an opinion piece written by Jenny Beth Martin via The Hill: A study published in 2015 by The Los Angeles Times revealed that just three of Musk's ventures -- SolarCity Corp. (which manufactured and installed solar energy systems before its 2016 merger with Tesla Motors Inc.), Tesla Motors Inc. (which manufactures electric vehicles), and Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX (which builds rocket ships) -- had received $4.9 billion in government subsidies to that point in time. By now, Musk's various ventures have sucked well over $5 billion from government coffers. Worse: in order to induce car buyers to spend their money on electric vehicles, the federal government offers a $7,500 rebate on the purchase price. Some states enhance that rebate with rebates of their own. In California, for instance, purchasers of electric vehicles get a state-funded rebate of $2,500 more.

Slashdot reader mi asks: "Why are you and I subsidizing Elon Musk's products and when will his businesses be able to compete on their own?"

Comments

Whine much?

[kaka.mala.vachva]

I drive just about 9000 miles per month, less than the national average of 12000 miles per month. I should pay less road taxes every year, and people doing more than 12000 miles per year should pay more. Why am I subsidizing other people's car usage and when will everyone driving over 12000 miles be able to pay their road maintenance fees on their own? OR I don't have kids. Why should my property taxes go to schools that I or my family will not be using? OR ................insert pet peeve here............ Electric cars are a good thing, and any help we can give to making them mainstream is also a good thing.