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Old 03-27-2016, 11:48 AM   #3
ZBB
Relic
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: A very fast golf cart
Location: The Valley of the Sun
Posts: 12,821
Quote:
Originally Posted by JST View Post
Ha. Was thinking of starting this thread last night.

One thing to remember when putting cash down; the Model 3 will almost certainly launch like the X and the S, with the highest spec cars produced first. So, unless you're planning on ordering a fully kitted out Model 3 (which will prob be 80 or 90 grand), it's not clear that putting money down first will get you one of the first cars built.

I'm hoping that Tesla has learned something from the X, and that the 3 will have fewer goofy features that delay production. But we'll know at least a little more Thursday evening.
Elon has already tweeted that the ≡ will be "simpler"… With the Bolt slated to go into production late this year, they need to keep on schedule.

As for the deposit, it may be the only way to get the full federal tax credit… Those phase out for a manufacturer once they sell 200k EVs in the US -- and Model ≡ will take Tesla over the limit fairly quickly.

For reference, the credit phase out works like this:
- Full Credit ($7500) avail through the calendar quarter after 200k cars are sold
- 50% of credit avail for the next 6 months
- 25% of credit avail for another 6 months
- No more credits for that manufacturer…

So if Tesla hits 200k cumulative US sales in June 2018, then the full credit will be avail through Sept 2018, 50% from Oct '18 to Mar '19 and 25% from Apr '19 to Sep '19...
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