Ballsy move. I strongly suspect this could jeopardize the massive federal subsidies that keep Tesla afloat (and probably Solar City, too). $7.5K per car (which essentially amounts to a 10% per-unit discount out the door) times 84K cars is $630M.

Unless the tax credits are extended (and the likelihood of that was essentially zero already), Tesla is set to hit the phaseout point next year regardless, and will have them go to zero one year later. It's likely that if you reserve a Model 3 today, you won't get a tax credit when you take delivery. So that wouldn't change a whole lot. And assuming the subsidy is eliminated for everyone and not just Tesla, it'll make them more competitive.

I'd say the big danger for his stuff is SpaceX and NASA, and I don't think there's much risk there.

Has nothing to do with being ballsy.

I wish our president could sacrifice something for what he believes is right much like Musk is, if what you say is true.

Now has more time to start another company

Given that he now has a ground car company, an underground car company, and a space car company, I assume the next one will have to be some sort of atmospheric flying car company.

My money is on a water car.

I think he is building his Lotus from James Bond to actually do that.

... with rockets.

That's the convergence phase, where the rocket car, land car, underground car, and boat car fuse into a glorious transportation chariot for humanity's reach for the stars. Can't remember what page that would be in Musk's master plan.

The pictures were awesome.

Boats?

Boat sovereign state. He can be president too.

#Elon4POTUS and #ImpeachTrump ?

When you make an ultimatum you have to be prepared to carry it out or lose credibility.

Why now? Surely he can not be surprised?

If he did not do it, I would have to find a different car producer for my next car. So, I have to think about it.

I am not sure, if I want to support US companies in this "America first" situation. A country that so much indulges in egoism is really difficult to like.

The US produces Anti-Americanism itself.

I think it is important to distinguish between the US and Trump and his supporters. Musk and Tesla are one of the big driving forces in fighting climate change - the cars are an important step, but long term their storage business might have an even larger impact on moving to renewable energies. So supporting them sounds like a very good idea, especially if you disagree with Trumps climate politics.

Might be.

I myself have US-citizen relatives and I know, that some great people live there.

But it is very difficult to be fond of people who elected such people and who (in big parts of the voters) greatly admire his "America first" propaganda.

I am sure, that this "America first" will harm not only the world, but many Americans and I am very sad about it. And I am sad, that those, that did most of the harm and made a profit from it, will get a free ride again, as it was 2008.

People just don't learn.

(BTW: I wanted to post this reply yesterday, but was hindered by this stupid regulatory system here)

Kind of sad people quit/resign/temper tantrum when they discover opposing views or decisions. I think this was a dumb move by the president but Elon and others originally joined to try and provide insight and influence against opposing viewpoints. Did they expect to get their way all the time?

What is the point of giving advice to someone who will not take it? At some point, anyone in Trump's orbit becomes complicit rather than just being in an advisory role. If Trump is not going to listen to people like Musk on the largest of issues (Paris) then why would Musk stay on the (low) chance that Trump listens to him on other, minor issues?

He hasn't been on the council that long; there's a lot of time left on this term. Plus Elon would have better access to funding to leverage his energy agenda with his own companies.

He could also push for spending the billions that would have went in that deal domestically - more efficient infrastructure, renewables, etc.