Tesla unveiled its newest product last week, a $132,000 SUV the company is calling the Model X. But Tesla’s reliance on government subsidies has people wondering if luxury is really something taxpayers need to fund.
Tesla’s expensive vehicles depend on the assistance of the federal government, particularly green subsidies, to achieve their production goals. Earlier this month, a Wall Street Journal editorial asked why taxpayers are being asked to subsidize the ambition of electric cars, particularly when only the wealthy can reap the benefits.
In the case of the Tesla X, anyone purchasing this new standard in green luxury will be given a $7,500 tax break.
Slate reports that Tesla’s actions “could solidify the popular image of Tesla’s vehicles as status symbols for our new tech overlords. It’s a fine image for a luxury brand. But it’s less than ideal for a mission-driven startup that has positioned itself as an underdog disruptor while relying heavily on government tax breaks.”
The Tesla Model X is nevertheless groundbreaking in its technological achievement. According to Slate, “the X has a front trunk where the engine would normally go. The battery instead lies beneath the floor, giving it a center of gravity that should make it immune to the rollover problems that have plagued SUVs past,” and goes, “rocketing from zero to 60 in 3.9 seconds.”
The Tesla also boasts impressive cabin luxuries, such as its filtration system. Business Insider reports that its, “effectively weapons-grade air-conditioning, which Tesla has dubbed ‘bioweapons defense mode.’ It will protect you from the apocalypse.”
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