Tesla and Ford are racing against the clock as the federal electric vehicle tax credit is set to expire on September 30. The $7,500 incentive, which has helped drive EV adoption in recent years, is being eliminated under President Donald Trump’s newly passed “Big Beautiful Bill.” Automakers are scrambling to clear inventory before the deadline hits and prices rise.
Tesla has launched an aggressive push, warning buyers through website banners and email campaigns to take delivery before the tax credit vanishes. The urgency reflects the heavy reliance many of Tesla’s models have had on federal incentives to maintain affordability. Without the credit, analysts expect fewer buyers will be willing to pay premium EV prices.
Ford is also sounding the alarm. The company extended its offer of a free home EV charger and installation through the end of September. It also introduced a “zero-zero-zero” deal—zero down, zero payments for 90 days, and zero percent interest for four years on select EV models. Ford’s sales team is pressing the message: now is the best—and possibly last—time to get in on an EV deal backed by federal support.
The bill doesn’t just eliminate the tax credit—it also strips other subsidies for renewable energy, marking a sharp pivot from the previous administration’s green energy priorities. President Trump celebrated the bill as a win for consumer choice, ending what he described as a forced shift to electric cars. Under the new law, Americans are free to choose gas-powered vehicles, hybrids, or emerging technologies without federal pressure.
Elon Musk, whose business has long benefited from government incentives, has been outspoken against the bill. He’s warned of higher deficits and strategic setbacks to American competitiveness. Trump, however, dismissed Musk’s objections and highlighted their prior conversations about ending the EV mandate.
