>

Then I guess I'm walking when my car eventually dies.
They did this so the long range model Y will qualify for the $7500 credit >

And the Model X weights over 6,000lbs, so it sells b/c business owners can deduct the full price.
A huge portion of Tesla's success is b/c of taxpayer funding....Elon shouldn't receive all the profits. >

Thats the whole goal of the taxpayer funded incentives: to get companies to produce electric cars when they otherwise wouldnt be profitable. Seems like its worked really well >

Seems like but isn't >

What is the goal of taxpayer funded incentives then? >

One initial goal is to help jumpstart a new technology that has high adoption barriers vs an entrenched industry. Companies will produce what they wouldn't have otherwise, leading to technological advancements and economies of scale, reducing prices. Happened with hybrids (also appliances, lighting) and it's happening with EVs. That's the part the comment above deliberately leaves out. It's sort of a chicken and egg problem initially. Companies won't invest in something not profitable in short or medium term. But without production, the technology doesn't improve so we're stuck. 
Another goal is to reward technologies that pollute less and use less fossil fuels, sort of like carbon pricing but using incentives on the cleaner technology side rather than fees. >

You just said essentially the same thing as /u/PicklePanther9000 except with more words. >

After having raised prices 20%. 
The “affordable” model 3 was supposed to be around $30-35k. It’s now priced at $48,190 to start. >

It qualifies for the new $7,500 tax credit though. $40,690 is less than the average new vehicle price. Include long term fuel and maintenance savings and it’s actually not bad. >

Lol. 40k for a new car... that's an entire year's salary for most people. >

Do you know that a new civic costs these days?
Cars are just expensive now.