Procuring For An Inexpensive EV In Colorado

August 17, 2025

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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) have been promoting in one of many hottest markets within the US, Colorado. They’ve a $3,500 prompt tax credit score for automobiles beneath $80,000, and also you get an additional $2,500 if the worth is under $35,000. They also have a “Money for Clunkers” program (they name it Car Change Colorado) that provides you as much as $6,000 extra off an EV buy if you happen to retire a gasoline automotive greater than 12 years outdated and meet earnings limitations. Plus, there’s nonetheless the shortly expiring $7,500 US Federal Tax Credit score. Add these 4 up and a few individuals 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 seems to be to be going all out to have a document quarter in car gross sales. On the latest incomes launch, we discovered Tesla had unexpectedly excessive gross sales and even greater manufacturing. This implies they elevated stock. That is in all probability as a result of they anticipate a rush in demand from patrons 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 as we speak 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 anticipate there could be plenty of stock obtainable on their web site. I appeared within the Denver space and so they solely had 9 Mannequin Ys. Moreover, whenever 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, nevertheless it confirmed that Mannequin Ys solely have 205 vehicles in inventory in the entire nation, whereas there are 1,111 Cybertrucks obtainable.

I didn’t go to the Tesla supply heart as we speak, however all indications are that gross sales are very robust. Within the 4th quarter, issues could possibly be very tough for Tesla if they’ve bother ramping up their new fashions, or if they will ramp them up however individuals simply don’t need them. Alternatively, they plan to make use of plenty of automobiles to launch their Robotaxi service throughout the US, a plan that admittedly has a excessive danger of slipping into subsequent yr if Tesla’s observe document on autonomy is taken into account. Two years in the past, I assumed it will 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 could possibly argue both case.

Chevrolet

I went to Fowler Chevrolet and requested in regards to the base Equinox. The salesperson instructed me they have been offered out and had a ready record of about 50 individuals! Because the 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 bit over $20,000! No surprise there’s a ready record! 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 anticipate leather-based seats at that value!).

The salesperson mentioned that they had some Blazers obtainable, however that they have been near $60,000. I just like the Blazer, however even with the credit, it isn’t value double the cash for a equally sized car. I anticipate Chevy may have an enormous 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 may get well shortly. However the Bolt is a a lot smaller car than the Equinox, and for some, they gained’t like that.

Hyundai

I went into this dealership considering possibly the Kona EV (which begins beneath $35,000) could be the new vendor primarily based 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 centered on the IONIQ 5. I took it for a brief check drive (it was nice and had one-pedal driving). As you may see, the lease deal could be very aggressive. When you take the $19,350 Hyundai rebate off the $55,000 value, it’s much more than the equally sized Equinox, however it’s a lot higher geared up additionally (corresponding to the Equinox LT2 or LT3 trims). With a brand new US-based manufacturing facility (defending Hyundai from the Trump tariffs), I believe their gross sales will soften a bit, however Hyundai and Kia (together with Tesla) have all the time been fairly nimble at adjusting to altering market circumstances.

You’ll be able to see they actually promote the IONIQ model prominently.

Ford

I used to be fairly upset by what I noticed on the Ford vendor. 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 know-how.

I requested the salesperson in regards to the Mustang Mach-E, and he mentioned he had a fantastic low cost on a used one. The least costly one he confirmed me was virtually $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 effectively geared up IONIQ 5, Equinox, or Tesla Mannequin Y for $10,000 much less. I believe Ford gained’t have an enormous rush of individuals speeding in to purchase the Mustang Mach-E, since nothing is expiring for it this quarter. On the intense facet, it is going to be extra aggressive when its main opponents lose their $7,500 tax credit score.

Conclusion

Tesla’s short-term future relies on how the rollout of their 4 new fashions within the 4th quarter goes, and long run if and once 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 all the things or be a disappointment.

Chevrolet seems to be like they’re doing three issues to be extra aggressive: shifting to LFP batteries, introducing a complete line of extra inexpensive EVs, and shifting manufacturing to the US to guard them from tariffs. That ought to work pretty effectively. They could 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 shifting extra manufacturing to the US. I believe they may do in addition to Chevy, possibly higher.

Ford not too long ago introduced essentially the most aggressive plan, nevertheless 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 reap the benefits of my Tesla referral hyperlink to rise up to $1000 off a brand new Tesla car, 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 an wonderful article on it.

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

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