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by SirWart 569 days ago
Why should California taxpayers subsidize other Californians to buy EVs that are made in other states? Like if you care about emissions aren't the cars made in California using California's relatively green electricity, higher worker standards, and short distance to travel after manufacture better than ones made elsewhere? Even if you don't want to support Tesla, not even having a carveout for cars manufactured in the state seems insane.
2 comments
adastra22 569 days ago
Going a step further, why should there be tax incentives at all for a product that is wildly popular and seeing adoption even without a tax credit? These credits were introduced back when the field was new and the presumption was some government influence was necessary to jumpstart mass production.
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czhu12 569 days ago
Perhaps one can see it as the inverse of a tax on ICE vehicles without adding a tax? It will be revenue negative for the state but I think the net effect on consumers would be the same?

I guess one could argue that a tax on ICE vehicles are to pay for the externalities of pollution

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adastra22 568 days ago
Taxpayers pay for the tax credit. An ICE tax would be added revenue.
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ivewonyoung 568 days ago
> why should there be tax incentives at all for a product that is wildly popular and seeing adoption even without a tax credit?

To reduce air pollution and combat climate change. To encourage ICE manufacturers to switch.

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adastra22 568 days ago
The point is that the tipping point has already been reached. People who want electric vehicles are going to buy one, with or without the tax credit. Those who don't (e.g. because they can't have a charger where they live) aren't going to be swayed by the tax credit. It's not clear it has any effect on EV adoption anymore.
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ivewonyoung 567 days ago
There's enough people on the fence for $7500 to matter. Car demand is price elastic.
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afinlayson 569 days ago
It’s less that they are made in other states. It’s that they used all the resources here then left after making it big. Pull up the ladder after succeeding.
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blackeyeblitzar 568 days ago
What resources did they “use up”? Also they still manufacture in CA right?
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