Overview

• The federal $7,500 incentive for new EVs and $4,000 credit for used models expire on Sept. 30 and buyers must take delivery by then to qualify
• Dealers nationwide report a spike in orders this week, with Tesla’s delivery estimates jumping from a few weeks to nearly six months
• Tesla has raised lease rates by up to 14 percent, ended free upgrade incentives for key models and accelerated production to meet the delivery deadline
• Ford and General Motors anticipate a last-minute sales boom followed by slower demand and are shifting product roadmaps toward hybrids and a diversified lineup
• Both Tesla and Rivian are bracing for post-credit challenges, with Elon Musk warning of “a few rough quarters” and Rivian cutting its regulatory credit revenue outlook by nearly half