Procuring For An Reasonably priced EV In Colorado

Contents

Tesla Manufacturing & Gross sales Look Very Robust Chevrolet Hyundai Ford Conclusion

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Final Up to date on: seventeenth August 2025, 12:40 am

On this article, I wished to see how electrical automobiles (EV) had been promoting in one of many hottest markets within the US, Colorado. They’ve a $3,500 immediate tax credit score for automobiles underneath $80,000, and also you get an additional $2,500 if the value is under $35,000. They actually have a “Money for Clunkers” program (they name it Car Trade Colorado) that provides you as much as $6,000 extra off an EV buy for those who retire a gasoline automotive greater than 12 years previous and meet revenue limitations. Plus, there’s nonetheless the shortly expiring $7,500 US Federal Tax Credit score. Add these 4 up and a few persons are getting between $11,000 and $19,500 again on their EV purchases or leases! I’m visiting my daughter this weekend in Colorado, and I wished to do some in-person analysis. I knew I couldn’t analysis all the highest automobiles right here, so I’ll give attention to Tesla, Chevrolet, Hyundai, and Ford.

Tesla Manufacturing & Gross sales Look Very Robust

Tesla appears to be going all out to have a file quarter in automobile gross sales. On the current incomes launch, we discovered Tesla had unexpectedly excessive gross sales and even increased manufacturing. This implies they elevated stock. That is in all probability as a result of they anticipate a rush in demand from consumers keen to purchase earlier than the federal tax credit score expires. There are additionally rumors that Tesla has elevated manufacturing — each manufacturing of the fashions they promote right now and in addition manufacturing of the 4 fashions they don’t promote but (the extra inexpensive Mannequin Y, the bigger YL, the Mannequin Y Efficiency, and the Mannequin 3+). So, if these vehicles weren’t promoting, I’d count on there could be a whole lot of stock accessible on their web site. I appeared within the Denver space and so they solely had 9 Mannequin Ys. Moreover, once you click on on them, solely 3 are in inventory; the others are “arriving quickly.” They don’t have any of the bottom fashions with the bottom colour and wheels. They aren’t providing any stock reductions, however they’re nonetheless providing 3.49% financing.

I’m undecided how correct this web site from Norway is (since Tesla has been cracking down on people who screen-scrape their web site and mixture the info), however it seems that stock goes down. That is for all fashions within the USA, however it confirmed that Mannequin Ys solely have 205 vehicles in inventory in the entire nation, whereas there are 1,111 Cybertrucks accessible.

I didn’t go to the Tesla supply middle right now, however all indications are that gross sales are very robust. Within the 4th quarter, issues might be very tough for Tesla if they’ve bother ramping up their new fashions, or if they will ramp them up however folks simply don’t need them. However, they plan to make use of a whole lot of automobiles to launch their Robotaxi service throughout the US, a plan that admittedly has a excessive threat of slipping into subsequent yr if Tesla’s observe file on autonomy is taken into account. Two years in the past, I assumed it might take years for FSD to be working with out a driver. I don’t know if I used to be too optimistic or pessimist. I believe you can argue both case.

Chevrolet

I went to Fowler Chevrolet and requested in regards to the base Equinox. The salesperson advised me they had been offered out and had a ready checklist of about 50 folks! For the reason that base mannequin is just below $35,000 ($34,995), it qualifies for the additional $2,500 Colorado tax credit score. Which means you should purchase it for a little bit over $20,000! No surprise there’s a ready checklist! I used to be impressed with the Equinox a yr in the past, however this base mannequin is a stripped down unit (I don’t count on leather-based seats at that worth!).

The salesperson mentioned that they had some Blazers accessible, however that they had been near $60,000. I just like the Blazer, however even with the credit, it isn’t price double the cash for a equally sized automobile. I count on Chevy can have a giant drop in gross sales when the tax credit score ends, but when they will get the brand new Bolt out with the LFP battery pack and the automotive is constructed within the US (avoiding the Trump tariffs), they might get better shortly. However the Bolt is a a lot smaller automobile than the Equinox, and for some, they received’t like that.

Hyundai

I went into this dealership pondering perhaps the Kona EV (which begins underneath $35,000) could be the recent vendor based mostly on my Chevy expertise.

However after speaking to a salesman who mentioned the Kona has solely 200 miles of vary, whereas the IONIQ 5 fashions have between 259 and 318 miles of vary, have way more room, and are a lot nicer, I targeted on the IONIQ 5. I took it for a brief check drive (it was nice and had one-pedal driving). As you possibly can see, the lease deal could be very aggressive. For those who take the $19,350 Hyundai rebate off the $55,000 worth, it’s much more than the equally sized Equinox, however it’s a lot higher outfitted additionally (akin to the Equinox LT2 or LT3 trims). With a brand new US-based manufacturing unit (defending Hyundai from the Trump tariffs), I believe their gross sales will soften a bit, however Hyundai and Kia (together with Tesla) have at all times been fairly nimble at adjusting to altering market circumstances.

You may see they actually promote the IONIQ model prominently.

Ford

I used to be fairly disillusioned by what I noticed on the Ford seller. While you stroll in, they present a bunch of gasoline guzzling muscle vehicles.

Then they present a 100-year-old Ford truck. Nothing about new expertise.

I requested the salesperson in regards to the Mustang Mach-E, and he mentioned he had an important low cost on a used one. The least costly one he confirmed me was nearly $53,000 and he didn’t learn about any incentives. It doesn’t qualify for any federal incentives and solely will get $3,500 from Colorado. Since it’s made in Mexico (just like the Equinox), Ford is paying a 25% Trump tariff on this mannequin. I might a lot quite have both the spartan Equinox for lots much less cash or the properly outfitted IONIQ 5, Equinox, or Tesla Mannequin Y for $10,000 much less. I believe Ford received’t have a giant rush of individuals speeding in to purchase the Mustang Mach-E, since nothing is expiring for it this quarter. On the brilliant aspect, will probably be extra aggressive when its main opponents lose their $7,500 tax credit score.

Conclusion

Tesla’s short-term future depends on how the rollout of their 4 new fashions within the 4th quarter goes, and long run if and after they get Full Self Driving to work in private automobiles and their robotaxi service. Tesla’s devoted Cybercab, made utilizing their unboxed course of, will seemingly both change every little thing or be a disappointment.

Chevrolet appears like they’re doing three issues to be extra aggressive: transferring to LFP batteries, introducing an entire line of extra inexpensive EVs, and transferring manufacturing to the US to guard them from tariffs. That ought to work pretty properly. They might have extra aggressive plans that they haven’t introduced but.

Hyundai can also be doing the identical three issues as Chevy: engaged on LFP, introducing extra fashions, and transferring extra manufacturing to the US. I believe they are going to do in addition to Chevy, perhaps higher.

Ford not too long ago introduced probably the most aggressive plan, however it additionally leaves the corporate with a 2-year hole the place they don’t have a lot to compete with Tesla, Chevy, and Hyundai.

If you wish to make the most of my Tesla referral hyperlink to rise up to $1000 off a brand new Tesla automobile, right here’s the hyperlink: https://ts.la/paul92237 — however as I’ve mentioned earlier than, if one other proprietor helped you extra, please use their hyperlink as an alternative of mine. If you wish to be taught extra about Tesla’s new referral program (August 2024), Chris Boylan has written a superb article on it.

Disclosure: I’m a shareholder in Tesla [TSLA], BYD [BYDDY], XPeng [XPEV], and a number of other ARK ETFs. However I supply no funding recommendation of any type right here.

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