Tesla gets sportscar subsidy in Japan (SF)

Electric sportscar maker Tesla Motors Inc. got its Roadster put on a list of green vehicles in Japan, a move that could cut its price there by a quarter.

Even so, a rebated Roadster ain’t cheap in Japan -- the government rebate will lop 3.24 million yen, or $38,360, off the $152,100 price tag.

Rebates and tax breaks are an important part of Tesla’s marketing. Early on, Tesla factored a $7,500 tax credit into the prices for its sedan, the Model S. But a tax credit, like other rebates, isn’t an immediate reduction in price. It’s just a potential boon to the buyer, though he or she has to fill out the paperwork and apply for the credit later.

Read the full report in the San Francisco Business Times