Tesla delays, tax credit increases Chevy Bolt sales

The Chevy Bolt is a good car, with two major flaws 1) It looks like an econobox and at over $30K it should not, 2) The seats are not comfortable enough on long rides

Some potential buyers of Tesla's long-delayed Model 3 sedan are concerned that they will miss out on big federal tax breaks and are looking for alternatives such as the Chevrolet Bolt, according to postings by would-be Tesla buyers on websites and interviews with Chevy dealers.

Last week, Tesla told some holders of Model 3 reservations that they would not get their cars until 2019, eliciting howls of complaint on Tesla online fan forums. Tesla declined to comment.

General Motors dealers in California, the top U.S. market for electric vehicles, say brisk demand for Bolts is driven in part by frustrated Tesla buyers who are afraid they will lose a $7,500 EV tax credit if they wait. The tax credit drops in value and eventually disappears once Tesla sells 200,000 EVs in the U.S., which Edmunds analyst Jeremy Acevedo expects to happen by fall.

Tesla's Model 3 production troubles give rivals a chance to snatch customers. Tesla has said that the net number of refundable $1,000 reservations for Model 3s was stable late last year and grew in recent weeks, with hundreds of thousands in line. But some buyers are running out of time or patience.

Chevrolet dealer Yev Kaplinskiy said his dealership between San Francisco and Silicon Valley sold 15 Bolts last weekend, after Tesla's latest delay.

"We're getting the Tesla people who wanted their Model 3," Kaplinskiy said. "We ask them, 'What other cars are you interested in?' They're mostly Tesla. But they want the car now. They don't want to wait."

Chevrolet sent an email to some prospective buyers this week, announcing in bold case, "Bolt EV: Now available." More at Autonews/Reuters