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Rani Molla

Tesla sales jumped from June to July but were down year over year

July data from Cox Automotive shows US EV sales grew 26.4% month over month and 19.7% year over year, their second-best month ever.

The highest sellers by volume were Tesla, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Ford, and Honda. Tesla still accounts for roughly 5x the EV sales of the others, but they are growing far faster on a monthly and annual basis. (Tesla saw a slight year-on-year decline in sales.)

The data is a rare bright spot for Tesla’s automotive business, which dropped 16% last quarter compared with a year earlier as the company faces declining demand for its cars.

One of the reasons for the growth in US EV sales, including Teslas last month, is that next month will mark the end of the $7,500 regulatory credits, so it’s pushing forward demand. How much the change will affect the companies’ top and bottom lines will depend on how steep the price cuts they enact to compensate are.

Additionally, the US government this month stopped issuing compliance letters to automakers for violating fuel economy standards, effectively dissolving the market for regulatory credits. Tesla is expected to miss out on about $255 million in regulatory credits — essentially pure profit — each quarter going forward.

Combined, the end of US regulatory credits and EV tax credits could jeopardize more than half of Tesla’s profits, according to JPMorgan estimates.

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Some automakers are working accounting magic to extend the EV tax credit beyond today’s deadline

The $7,500 EV tax credit is set to expire after today, September 30. Logically, electric vehicle sales are expected to fall off afterward.

But some automakers, including Ford, GM, and luxury EV maker Lucid, have found ways to effectively extend the credit for some customers.

According to reporting by Reuters, Ford and GM have initiated plans to dealers that would have the automakers themselves put down payments on EVs currently in inventory at dealerships. Those down payments would qualify for the expiring tax credit, and dealers would be able to extend the subsidy to future customers through discounted lease rates.

Reuters reports that the programs were launched following discussions between the automakers and the IRS.

In August, Lucid announced that the company would honor the $7,500 tax credit through the end of the year for lessees who order its Gravity SUV by Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

According to reporting by Reuters, Ford and GM have initiated plans to dealers that would have the automakers themselves put down payments on EVs currently in inventory at dealerships. Those down payments would qualify for the expiring tax credit, and dealers would be able to extend the subsidy to future customers through discounted lease rates.

Reuters reports that the programs were launched following discussions between the automakers and the IRS.

In August, Lucid announced that the company would honor the $7,500 tax credit through the end of the year for lessees who order its Gravity SUV by Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

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Boeing is reportedly planning its 737 successor

Boeing has spent much of the year improving its deliveries and climbing out of the hole it dug last year as safety issues and a major strike rocked its business.

Now, the plane maker is weighing what comes next. Boeing is in the early stages of planning a successor to its 737 family of planes, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal.

Earlier this year, CEO Kelly Ortberg promoted an executive to a role overseeing the 737 replacement and discussed a new engine for the plane with Rolls Royce, per the report.

Plans are early, and the process of developing a new plane can take more than 10 years. Boeing is about six years behind schedule in replacing its 777.

Earlier this year, CEO Kelly Ortberg promoted an executive to a role overseeing the 737 replacement and discussed a new engine for the plane with Rolls Royce, per the report.

Plans are early, and the process of developing a new plane can take more than 10 years. Boeing is about six years behind schedule in replacing its 777.

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“Madden” maker EA surges on report it’s nearing $50 billion deal to go private

Shares of video game giant Electronic Arts are surging up more than 15% Friday following a Wall Street Journal report that the company is nearing a roughly $50 billion deal to go private.

According to the WSJ, an investment group including Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund and PE firm Silver Lake (which is also part of the TikTok deal) could announce a deal next week.

In its fiscal first quarter that ended in June, EA delivered a disappointing net bookings outlook for the fiscal year.

Shares of EAs most intimidating competitor, Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two Interactive, climbed nearly 5% on the report.

In its fiscal first quarter that ended in June, EA delivered a disappointing net bookings outlook for the fiscal year.

Shares of EAs most intimidating competitor, Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two Interactive, climbed nearly 5% on the report.

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