Did Tesla Find Its US EV Tax Credit Loophole? Tesla Rentals? Plus New Marketing Efforts - CleanTechnica

The article discusses two recent Tesla initiatives that have drawn attention: the launch of a Tesla rental program and a new direct-to-consumer marketing effort involving at-home test drives. Tesla now offers rentals in select locations at about $60 per day for 3–7 days, with a potential $250 credit toward a purchase if the renter buys a Tesla within that period. While this rental program appears primarily as a marketing strategy to attract more buyers, the author speculates whether Tesla might be leveraging it to exploit a loophole in the US $7,500 electric vehicle (EV) tax credit. Previously, some automakers reportedly sold EVs to themselves or dealers to claim tax credits, which then benefited customers through leases. Since Tesla operates without independent dealers, it was unclear if it could use this tactic. The rental program raises questions about whether Tesla could be using a similar approach, though the author considers this unlikely but not impossible. Additionally, Tesla has intensified its marketing by offering personalized test drives where a Tesla