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Tesla Proves To Be Too Pricey For Germany, Loses Tax Subsidies (reuters.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the fish-out-of-water dept.

Tesla has been removed from Germany's list of electric cars eligible for subsidies because its Model S sedan is too expensive for the scheme. Tesla customers cannot order the Model S base version without extra features that pushed the car above the 60,000 euro ($71,500) price limit, a spokesman for the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Controls (BAFA) said on Friday. From the report: Germany last year launched the incentive scheme worth about 1 billion euros, partly financed by the German car industry, to boost electric car usage. A price cap was included to exempt premium models. "This is a completely false accusation. Anyone in Germany can order a Tesla Model S base version without the comfort package, and we have delivered such cars to customers," Tesla said in a statement. The carmaker said the upper price limit was initially set by the German government to exclude Tesla, but later a compromise was reached "that allows Tesla to sell a low option vehicle that qualifies for the incentive and customers can subsequently upgrade if they wish." It said, however, it would investigate whether any car buyers were denied the no-frills version. Under the subsidy scheme, buyers get 4,000 euros off their all-electric vehicle purchase and 3,000 euros off plug-in hybrids.

2 of 121 comments (clear)

  1. Nissan makes more than Tesla. So do several Chines by raymorris · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Several companies make more electric cars than Tesla does. Nissan is one you've heard of, probably. The Nissan Leaf is the most popular. They also make some all-electric vehicles for business use.

    Several companies in China make electric cars. In fact China makes more electric cars than the rest of the world combined. BYD is one Chinese company.

    > I have only ever heard of Telsa manufacturing them.

    Nissan and BYD executives don't announce they're building a tunnel, without permits, for a scientifically questionable vacuum subway from their parking lot to some other city. They just make good cars. Elon Musk is the PT Barnum of our age.

  2. There is no reason to subsidize a $70,000+ car by magzteel · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Anyone who can afford it can afford it without the subsidy too. This is just a gift to the wealthy.

    Note I am in no way against the wealthy. I wish them every success.

    But they don't need government assistance to buy a luxury vehicle.