Tesla has made its first move to counter the loss of the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit by offering a $6,500 lease credit, which it is offering internally.

Essentially, Tesla is reducing the price of a vehicle for those who choose to lease the vehicle by $6,500, which is a bit of a double-edged sword. However, it appears the company had this strategy ready to fire with the expiration of the EV tax credit, which occurred last night.

Tesla is offering the lease credit automatically, it says on its website, as the monthly payment amount already reflects the $6,500 discount. The company said in its terms:

“Monthly lease payment already includes the $6,500 Tesla lease credit, which is subject to change or end at any time. Order does not guarantee eligibility.”

The lease credit offer mostly offsets the loss of the tax credit, although, from a financial standpoint, it seems Tesla will take a bit of a hit in its profit margins. It will be interesting to see how long the company maintains the lease incentive because of its pressure on profits.

Lease pricing for the Model 3 and Model Y was also adjusted by Tesla after the expiration of the tax credit at midnight. The company increased these prices by up to 11 percent, as the Model Y’s payment range increased from $479 to $529 to between $529 and $599.

 

Model 3 prices came up from between $349 and $699 to $429 and $759.

These are with default options, including $3,000 down, a 36-month lease period, and 10,000 miles per year.

How Tesla’s sales will respond to the removal of the tax credit is one of the more discussed topics in the community over the past few months.

It was relatively evident that the Trump Administration planned to get rid of any subsidies for electric vehicles, something that Tesla CEO Elon Musk supported.

However, the true impact likely will not be seen until Q1 2026, as the credit will still be applied to any order placed before September 30. Leases do not apply to this condition, as deliveries had to be completed by yesterday to apply. Deliveries made after September 30 must be financed or paid for in cash.