Over the past few years, the US government has offered a $7,500 federal tax credit to buyers of electric vehicles. However, Donald Trump’s administration has suspended it, leading to a reduction in demand for this type of car. The move could be impacting the business of Tesla, which has started a leasing program for its vehicles.

The company offers its electric cars for rent for periods of between three and seven days, with prices starting at $60 per day, depending on the car model, according to The Verge. This option is available in two Tesla stores in California, located in San Diego and Costa Mesa, although the company is planning to expand the service to other stores by the end of the year.

Additionally, seeking to incentivize both leasing and purchasing, Tesla allows customers to charge vehicles at Supercharger stations and use supervised full autonomous driving for free. It is also offering a $250 credit for those who decide to purchase a Tesla in the week after renting.

The movement, given the reduction in demand after the expiration of the credit on October 1, would seek not only to generate a new source of income for the company, but also to dispose of the inventory that could be accumulating in stores and dealerships throughout the country.

At the same time, the initiative would represent a commitment to experience as a method to drive consideration and, therefore, sales. By allowing rentals and allowing people to live the experience of driving a Tesla with some of its advantages for free, the company works on the emotional connection with the product.

However, Tesla vehicles were already available for rental in the United States through companies such as Hertz. However, the initiative of Elon Musk’s company eliminates the intermediation of third parties by offering the rental directly to the drivers.

Beyond Tesla, companies focused on electric vehicles such as Rivian or Lucid would also be looking for ways to prevent their cars from going unsold in dealerships. The sales prospects for this type of company are complex at the end of this year and the beginning of the next, since the majority of people interested in buying an electric vehicle in 2025 have tried to take advantage of the credit in previous quarters.