News
Tesla and GM’s dreams for an EV tax credit extension have been dashed
Tesla’s efforts to convince the US Congress to extend the tax credit for electric vehicles went down the drain as lawmakers declined to extend the country’s EV incentives.
The incentive for the purchase of electric vehicles helped boost the EV market in recent years and is seen as one major purchase factor among consumers considering to get a green car. Such tax credits make electric vehicles more affordable and essential in the overall growth of the electric car industry. For example, in 2018, purchases of electric vehicles jumped by as much as 81% since 2017 with 361,307 EVs including plug-in hybrids sold during the year.
According to lawmakers who support the popular expansion of tax credit for electric vehicles, President Donald Trump is to blame.
“There has been extreme resistance from the president. I don’t know why the White House would want to stop jobs and the future of the auto industry,” said Michigan Democrat Senator Debbie Stabenow.
The tax credit for EVs has always been criticized by Republicans who see the subsidies as welfare for the wealthy and only benefits car manufacturers such as Tesla. Likewise, there was the usual counter-lobbying from petrochemical producers and refiners.
-->Tesla, along with General Motors and other green car manufacturers, has been lobbying for the approval of the Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now (GREEN) Act that will raise the cap of electric vehicle sales qualified for federal tax incentives from 200,000 units to 600,000 units. Both carmakers have hit their sales cap in 2018 and this means that those who will purchase Tesla vehicles starting January 1, 2020 are no longer qualified for tax credits. Without the federal tax credits, electric cars from these companies would have to compete in the auto market by their merits alone.
Under the existing rules, Tesla cars delivered on or before Dec. 31, 2018 received a $7,500 tax credit and this was later halved for deliveries made between Jan. 1 to June 30 this year. Those who purchased their Teslas July 1 through the end of 2019 qualify for $1,875 tax credits.
The EV Drive Coalition, which consists of car manufacturers such as Tesla and GM, has argued that the federal tax credit for electric vehicles directly benefit consumers.
“EV Incentives work to close that upfront cost gap and put Americans in EVs in greater numbers as the auto industry develops new cost-effective supply chains. Expanding the electric vehicle tax credit is not only critical in the fight against climate change, it also makes zero-emission vehicles accessible to more Americans, improves air quality, enhances our national security, and will grow an emerging industry that already supports nearly 300,000 American jobs,” EV Drive Coalition wrote.
Over the weekend, there were last-minute discussions about the possible extension of the federal tax credit for EVs as lawmakers tried to cram and pass a $1.4 trillion spending bill before government funds run out on Saturday. But unfortunately, efforts to extend the tax credit for EV purchases were unfruitful.
-->Aside from incentives for EV purchases, the GREEN Act was also seen as a bill that would help further promote renewable energy and help create technologies that will ultimately reduce the country’s carbon footprint.
News
Tesla’s new Holiday perk is timed perfectly to make FSD a household name
Tesla AI4 owners get FSD (Supervised) through Christmas, New Year’s Eve and well into the post-holiday travel season.
Tesla quietly rolled out a free Full Self-Driving (Supervised) trial for roughly 1.5 million HW4 owners in North America who never bought the package, and the timing could very well be genius.
As it turns out, the trial doesn’t end after 30 days. Instead, it expires January 8, 2026, meaning owners get FSD (Supervised) through Christmas, New Year’s Eve and well into the post-holiday travel season. This extended window positions the feature for maximum word-of-mouth exposure.
A clever holiday gift
Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt first spotted the detail after multiple owners shared screenshots showing the trial expiring on January 8. He confirmed with affected users that none had active FSD subscriptions before the rollout. He also observed that Tesla never called the promotion a “30-day trial,” as the in-car message simply reads “You’re Getting FSD (Supervised) For the Holidays,” which technically runs until after the new year.
The roughly 40-day period covers peak family travel and gatherings, giving owners ample opportunity to showcase the latest FSD V14’s capabilities on highway trips, crowded parking lots and neighborhood drives. With relatives riding along, hands-off highway driving and automatic lane changes could become instant conversation starters.
Rave reviews for FSD V14 highlight demo potential
FSD has been receiving positive reviews from users as of late. Following the release of FSD v14.2.1, numerous owners praised the update for its smoothness and reliability. Tesla owner @LactoseLunatic called it a “huge leap forward from version 14.1.4,” praising extreme smoothness, snappy lane changes and assertive yet safe behavior that allows relaxed monitoring.
-->Another Tesla owner, @DevinOlsenn, drove 600 km without disengagements, noting his wife now defaults to FSD for daily use due to its refined feel. Sawyer Merritt also tested FSD V14.2.1 in snow on unplowed New Hampshire roads, and the system stayed extra cautious without hesitation. Longtime FSD tester Chuck Cook highlighted improved sign recognition in school zones, showing better dynamic awareness. These reports of fewer interventions and a more “sentient” drive could turn family passengers into advocates, fueling subscriptions come January.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk predicts AI and robotics could make work “optional” within 20 years
Speaking on entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, Musk predicted that machines will soon handle most forms of labor, leaving humans to work only if they choose to.
Elon Musk stated that rapid advances in artificial intelligence and robotics could make traditional work unnecessary within two decades.
Speaking on entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, Musk predicted that machines will soon handle most forms of labor, leaving humans to work only if they choose to.
Work as a “hobby”
During the discussion, Musk said the accelerating capability of AI systems and general-purpose robots will eventually cover all essential tasks, making human labor a choice rather than an economic requirement. “In less than 20 years, working will be optional. Working at all will be optional. Like a hobby,” Musk said.
When Kamath asked whether this future is driven by massive productivity growth, Musk agreed, noting that people will still be free to work if they enjoy the routine or the challenge. He compared future employment to home gardening, as it is something people can still do for personal satisfaction even if buying food from a store is far easier.
“Optional” work in the future
Elon Musk acknowledged the boldness of his claim and joked that people might look back in 20 years and say he was wrong. That being said, the CEO noted that such a scenario could even happen sooner than his prediction, at least if one were to consider the pace of the advancements in AI and robotics.
-->“Obviously people can play this back in 20 years and say, ‘Look, Elon made this ridiculous prediction and it’s not true,’ but I think it will turn out to be true, that in less than 20 years, maybe even as little as ten or 15 years, the advancements in AI and robotics will bring us to the point where working is optional,” Musk said.
Elon Musk’s comments echo his previous sentiments at Tesla’s 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting, where he noted that Optimus could ultimately eliminate poverty. He also noted that robots like Optimus could eventually provide people worldwide with the best medical care.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk reiterates why Tesla will never make an electric motorcycle
Tesla CEO Elon Musk preemptively shut down speculations about a Tesla road bike once more.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk preemptively shut down speculations about a Tesla road bike once more, highlighting that the electric vehicle maker has no plans to enter the electric motorcycle market.
Musk posted his clarification in a post on X.
Musk’s reply to a fun AI video
X user @Moandbhr posted an AI video featuring the Tesla CEO on the social media platform, captioning it with “Mr. Elon Musk Just Revealed the Game-Changing Tesla Motorcycle.” The short clip depicted Musk approaching a sleek, single-wheeled vehicle, stepping onto it, and gliding off into the distance amid cheers. The fun video received a lot of traction on X, gaining 3.1 million views as of writing.
Musk replied to the post, stating that a Tesla motorcycle is not going to happen. “Never happening, as we can’t make motorcycles safe. For Community Notes, my near death experience was on a road bike. Dirt bikes are safe if you ride carefully, as you can’t be smashed by a truck,” Musk wrote in his reply.
Musk’s Past Comments on Two-Wheelers
Musk also detailed his reservations about motorcycles in a December 2019 X post while responding to questions about Tesla’s potential ATV. At the time, he responded positively to an electric ATV, though he also opposed the idea of a Tesla road-going motorcycle. Musk did state that electric dirt bikes might be cool, since they do not operate in areas where large vehicles like Class 8 trucks are present.
-->“Electric dirt bikes would be cool too. We won’t do road bikes, as too dangerous. I was hit by a truck & almost died on one when I was 17,” Musk wrote in his post.
Considering Musk’s comments about dirt bikes, however, perhaps Tesla would eventually offer a road bike as a recreational vehicle. Such a two-wheeler would be a good fit for the Cybertruck, as well as future products like the Robovan, which could be converted into an RV.
Tesla’s new Holiday perk is timed perfectly to make FSD a household name
Elon Musk predicts AI and robotics could make work “optional” within 20 years
