The tax credit should be increased and extended until US has converted to EV cars and hydrogen powered trucks and planes.
When the incentives end should you shutter the factory?
The best way to have an economic and socially productive factory after the incentives end is to get as far down the experience curve as possible before the incentive ends.
1) "Sell 750,000, or more, cars with the full incentive in place. A million if you can."
2) "Use global demand to avoid crossing the 250K trigger until the factory can run full speed ( I wonder how leases are treated? Could you lease the early production to keep it local and still avoid triggering until the factory was up to speed?)"
3) "Use a car design you have. That would be the Model 3, and it is a good one."
So the best way to honor the intent of the tax credit is to sell as many cars as possible with the credit still in place. If Tesla can build and deliver half a million after the trigger, it is a good thing for everyone:
A) 500,000 more Tesla customers feel like they got a ~$10,000 raise. That is good for the economy.
B) 500,000 more Tesla customers collectively benefit from $3.7 billion in additional public support. This helps Tesla, too.
C) I get a Model 3 for $26,000 and change.
A part of this is to make Elon seem more rational in his delivery expectations by painting him as in the center, but I really do think the world is better off, and Tesla employees are better off if the factory is designed for 750,000 and starts off at full speed. And does not get shuttered when the incentives end.
See above. And it is not gaming the intent of the incentives.