U.S. Senate bill could give Tesla, GM electric car tax credit boost
FILE PHOTO: Rows of the new Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles are seen in Richmond, California, U.S., June 22, 2018. REUTERS/Stephen Lam/File Photo
Get Alerts TSLA Hot Sheet
Join SI Premium – FREE
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) and General Motors Co (NYSE: GM), which have lobbied Congress to lift a cap on electric vehicles eligible for a $7,500 tax credit, could get their way for up to four years under a new proposal from a Republican senator.
On Thursday, Senator Dean Heller proposed legislation that would lift the current cap on electric vehicles eligible for tax credits. Reuters obtained a copy of the text of the previously unreported bill, which has not been posted on the Senate website.
Under current law, once a manufacturer hits 200,000 EVs sold, the tax credit phases out starting in the following quarter. Heller's bill lifts the individual manufacturer cap but would phase out the credit for the entire industry in 2022.
Last week, Tesla said orders for cars placed by Monday would be eligible for a full federal tax credit of $7,500 and these customers will get their cars delivered by the end of the year. Tesla said in July it had hit the 200,000 vehicle threshold, which under law will result in the tax credit being reduced by 50 percent for six months and then cut to $1,875 for another six months until it ends.
GM has said it expects to hit the 200,000 threshold by the end of the year.
Both GM and Tesla have lobbied Congress on the issue, according to federal disclosure reports and interviews with lawmakers. Tesla declined to comment.
GM declined to comment on the Heller bill but said it is important "to provide a federal tax credit for consumers to help make electric vehicles more affordable for all customers." GM Chief Executive Mary Barra has called for lifting the cap.
Other automakers are split over whether to back the effort. Some automakers think the credit should be limited to vehicles below a certain price, while others argue Heller's bill would penalize automakers that have not started selling EVs in big numbers.
Last week, Senator John Barrasso a Republican who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, proposed legislation to end the EV tax credit entirely and impose a new tax on EVs to fund highway repairs.
Senate Democrats are opposed to Barasso's measure. "Repealing a policy that helps combat climate change is the absolute wrong decision," said Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the tax-writing Finance Committee.
Last month, seven Democratic senators introduced legislation to lift the EV cap and extend it for 10 years. It would also allow buyers to use the tax credit as a "point of sale rebate."
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Tom Brown)
Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!
You May Also Be Interested In
- Tesla (TSLA) PT Lowered to $120 at HSBC on 'concerns about the timing and scale of prospects'
- General Motors (GM) PT Raised to $52 at Mizuho
- US Senate committee investigates pricing of Novo's Ozempic and Wegovy
Create E-mail Alert Related Categories
General News, Politics, ReutersRelated Entities
Second Curve Capital, TeslaSign up for StreetInsider Free!
Receive full access to all new and archived articles, unlimited portfolio tracking, e-mail alerts, custom newswires and RSS feeds - and more!