OK. Then this article is horribly written. This text is clear as mud. It reads to me like they are calling the loan a subsidy: Shortly after paying off his $465 million loan, Musk proclaimed that government should no longer provide such assistance. A "carbon tax would be a better way," he tweeted, adding: "Yes, am arguing against subsidies and in favor of a tax on the end bad created. Market will then achieve best solution." It isn't until the 3rd page (really? 3 pages?) that they start making their actual point about the subsidized batteries ans what not.