There’s still time to get that full federal electric vehicle tax credit, Tesla reminds prospective buyers

A Tesla Model S, customized by Creative Bespoke, on display at SEMA 2018. Photo by Bill Hayward.

Maybe, on the day after Black Friday 2018, they were trying to stir up a bit of Cyber Monday mojo to score a few online orders for their vehicles before the end of the month. In a message sent yesterday afternoon to their email newsletter subscriber list, Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA), reminded prospective buyers that there is still time to take advantage of the full $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit on electric vehicle purchases.

Tesla’s email message assured prospects that any orders placed by November 30 for new Tesla Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles will be delivered by the end of 2018, maintaining eligibility for the full tax credit.

The message also included a link to the Tesla e-commerce site where consumers can order one of their new vehicles online, as well as a reminder that the federal tax credit will be halved after December 31, 2018.

No test drive? No problem, according to Tesla. Their email promises purchasers that they can return their vehicles within three days of delivery for a full refund.

“This makes it even easier to order online and get a full refund, no questions asked,” the automaker stated in their email, adding that the tax credit “can also be applied to any new Tesla inventory, which includes showroom and test drive vehicles with low mileage.”

According to the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the federal government, as well as a number of U.S. states, offers various financial incentives to support the purchase of plug-in electric vehicles. Federal tax credits range from $2,500 to $7,500 for each new electric vehicle purchased in the U.S.

Tax credit amounts vary depending on the size and battery capacity of an electric vehicle. Tesla says their new Model S, Model X, and Model 3 electric cars are all eligible for the maximum credit of $7,500 if delivered by December 31, 2018.

The federal agency’s website states that the federal tax credits will be phased out as each manufacturer reaches a threshold of 200,000 qualified electric vehicle sales in the United States.