Tesla reported 8,600 sales in three days, triggering $43 million in government EV rebates. A single Toronto Tesla location claimed over 1,200 sales, raising concerns about possible rebate misuse. Transport Canada is investigating potential irregularities in Tesla’s sales amid the suspension of the rebate program. Canadian officials are investigating an unusual spike in Tesla vehicle …
  • LupusBlackfur@lemmy.world
    101·
    3 days ago

    🤔

    I wonder who (US govt) might have been the buyer of such a number of Swastikars…??? One order would do it.

    🤔

    Or… Maybe it really is just fraud… 😂

    • unalivejoy@lemm.eeEnglish
      51·
      2 days ago

      My conspiracy is a disgruntled investor is upset about loss of sales and diminished stock price, so tried to dump a couple million by buying their own cars to pump up the stock price. Only the Canadian dealers got caught, or they’re based in Canada and only had access to Canadian dealers.

      It’s completely insane, I have no proof, and is probably untrue, unless…

      • HellsBelle@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        3·
        2 days ago

        On Jan. 10, as political turmoil embroiled the federal government, Transport Canada informed dealerships that the EV rebate program would run out of money before its scheduled end in March.

        “Due to the high uptake, the iZEV Program will be paused in a few weeks,” stated the email sent to dealerships just before noon on the Friday, obtained by the Star.

        By Monday, all the money was gone and Transport Canada announced the EV rebate program was “paused.” It shut down the online claims portal for dealers, leaving hundreds without recourse to recoup their money.

        “Tesla had a run on the bank,” said Williams. “Somehow, Tesla gamed the system.”

        The crux of the matter is when paperwork called an “eligibility assessment” needs to be filed by the dealership.

        On the one hand, Transport Canada says dealers “must always submit an eligibility assessment prior to an incentive being paid.”

        On the other, it says, “there is no rule” to prevent them from submitting the paperwork in bulk, after the cars have already been delivered.

        Archived source