Tesla Cut From California EV Rebate Program After Price Hikes

Tesla Cut From California EV Rebate Program After Price Hikes

Elon Musk speaks at the opening of Tesla's new electric car plant near Gruenheide, Germany. Tesla may be the top-selling electric vehicle brand but in California, its biggest market in the U. S., the carmaker's products have become too expensive for customers there to receive state rebates for non-polluting cars and trucks. The state's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project late this month updated its list of battery-powered vehicles that qualify for direct rebates of up to $2, 000, which previously included base versions of Tesla's Model 3 sedan and Model Y hatchback, the top-selling EVs in California. But rebates are only available for cars priced up to $45, 000 and crossovers that cost no more than $60, 000. The program said that due to price hikes that took effect March 15, "any Tesla Model 3 or Model Y that was ordered on or after March 16, 2022, is not eligible for a CVRP rebate." The cheapest version of Model 3 currently costs $46, 990, up from $44, 990, and is more than $50, 000 after taxes and other fees. Add Autopilot and the company's controversial Full Self Driving package and the cost with taxes shoots past $60, 000. A base version