Global Courant
The starting price of a Tesla Model 3 — after federal tax credits — may once again be below the fabled $35,000 mark. Tesla’s website now claims every new Model 3 is eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit in the United States, after those credits were previously cut in half on April 18th for the entry-level Standard Range and Long Range RWD models.
Tesla’s shopping pages now display this badge. Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge
Here in California, a short distance from Tesla’s Fremont factory, I would pay $41,630 before tax — but only $32,130 after federal and state incentives, assuming Tesla is correct that its cars now qualify for the full federal credit. It could cost less than $30,000 depending on your state’s incentives.
I’m not counting the company’s “Estimated 6-year gas savings,” because no one will put them back into my wallet. Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge
Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge
The reason some cars stopped qualifying is because their batteries didn’t meet sourcing requirements, which specify that 40 percent of their minerals must be “extracted or processed in the United States or a US free-trade agreement partner” and 50 percent of their components must be “manufactured or assembled in North America.”
Those percentages go up each year — by 2027, 80 percent of battery minerals and components must meet those requirements for vehicles to be eligible for the credit.
Income limits of $150,000 for individuals, $300,000 for married couples filing jointly. Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge
Not every car or family will qualify for the $7,500 tax credit, too: you’ll need to be under a certain income, and you can’t tack too many accessories onto a Tesla or it’ll hit a price cap.