by Gabrielle DeSantis

A lot is going on in the automotive industry, especially when it comes to electric vehicles. However, there seems to be a rift between the EV community and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The new bill proposes extra cash for EVs produced in union factories and snuck in a considerable benefit for vehicles like the Ford Mustang Mach-E. What’s the deal with the newest version of the bill?

Tesla, Elon Musk, and EV incentive package

Over the weekend, Musk took to Twitter to give his opinion about a new EV incentive. According to a report by Electrek, the new incentive shafted Tesla. The updated proposal would remove the limit of vehicle sales (right now, it is capped at 200,000) and would offer a higher incentive amount. Instead of it being a federal tax rebate, it would be more of an instant point-of-sale rebate.

The proposal would offer a rebate of $12,500, but the restrictions would only offer Tesla buyers a $4,500 rebate. While the program needs reforming, Musk is not pleased with the deal. Currently, no Tesla EVs are eligible for the federal tax credit.

The $4,500 number from the bill comes from purchasing an EV from a union factory. That gives a distinct advantage to union factories like GM, Chrysler, Ford, Jeep, and Mitsubishi. Large companies like Tesla, Toyota, Nissan, Honda would be deemed ineligible.

Elon Musk thinks Tesla has been explicitly ignored

This is written by Ford/UAW lobbyists, as they make their electric car in Mexico. Not obvious how this serves American taxpayers. https://t.co/FUUXARHlby

— Name (@elonmusk) September 12, 2021

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After The government proposed the newest version of the bill, Musk aimed at Ford and the United Auto Workers union. Musk Tweeted that he felt the bill was written by those who would benefit from the changes. The bill gives unionized American automakers an advantage.

Tesla has resisted unionizing at the Fremont, California, factory. But if this is the version of the bill that passes, Ford, GM, and Chrysler would be at a considerable advantage. But the most glaring piece of the bill would undoubtedly benefit Ford.

One piece of the newest proposal would give a five-year grace period for those electric vehicles made outside of the U.S. to get the $7,500. That would grandfather in Ford and the Mustang Mach-E to get the total incentive, built in Mexico. There doesn’t seem to be any way around that fact, as the language is meant to benefit Ford. The Mach-E is currently one of the best selling vehicles in Ford’s lineup, so it makes sense to want to keep that momentum going.

The incentive bill still has a long way to go

Without getting into the politics of the situation, a $12,500 incentive will get a lot of drivers into new EVs. Tesla has been a large part of the electric vehicle revolution, even if the factories are not unionized. However, the brand could always unionize?

It would be nice if all vehicles were eligible for the total rebate, but that’s not always how the cookie crumbles. Getting any bill passed and through the red tape is a lot of work, but it isn’t currently benefiting as many people as possible.

Tesla has been successfully building and selling electric vehicles for many years now, and the brand’s participation in this move has been crucial. While other automakers are simply ramping up production on EVs in the next few years, Tesla has been doing it for years already.

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by Gabrielle DeSantis

Carmakers released some great sedans in 2021. Consumer Reports recently listed 10 of them, and big surprise, almost all of them were from Japan and Korea. The Dodge Charger and Volkswagen Passat did manage to stow away near the bottom, boasting an exceptional road test for the Charger, followed by satisfactory predicted reliability and owner satisfaction. The VW scored adequate in the predicted reliability and owner satisfaction. Otherwise, the list is Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda, and Kia. Here are the seven best sedans from 2021 as chosen by Consumer Reports.

Toyota Camry: all-wheel-drive and lots of power

According to Consumer Reports, the new Camry is much improved from its previous versions. It’s quiet on the inside, comfortable, and offers better handling than previous model years. Toyota made it possible to take the Camry to the snow by continuing with its available all-wheel-drive. Consumers have multiple engine options, including a 2.5-liter inline-four and a 3.5-liter V6, which makes 300 horsepower. The hybrid 2.5-liter inline-four makes 208 horsepower. Either way, the Camry has plenty of power.

Toyota Avalon: the penultimate year

The Avalon uses the same drivetrain as the Camry, so it’s no wonder this sedan nabbed the #2 spot on Consumer Reports’ list. It’s packed with various amenities like an eight-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Scout GPS Link, and optional wireless device charging. Though it offers a lavish driving experience, with a comfortable and quiet ride, Toyota will not revive the Avalon beyond the 2022 model year. 

Subaru Legacy: chugging along in mediocrity

The Legacy carries on as a mid-sized sedan but is unfortunately underpowered compared to the Toyotas. It has two four-cylinder options, including a 2.5-liter that makes 182 naturally aspirated horsepower, or a turbocharged 2.4-liter, which makes 260 horsepower. Consumer Reports gave it an exceptional road test score despite its lack of sportiness, a low predicted reliability, and an adequate predicted owner satisfaction score. 

Honda Accord: borderline luxury and efficiency

The new Accord earned the same score as the Subaru, but with better gas mileage. The Accord also gets two engine options, including a 192-hp 1.5-liter inline-four as standard, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four that produces 252 horsepower. Both engines come with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which sounds like too much for a dinky four-cylinder. However, it does help the car to get 47 mpg. It’s reportedly a comfortable, quick, and responsive sedan.

Mazda 6: the last of a breed

Mazda’s mid-sized 6 slots in with a rating just barely behind the Accord and Subaru. It scored above average in every criterion. True to Mazda fashion, the 6 is responsive and handles well. It has two engine options, a 2.5-liter inline-four which produces 181 naturally aspirated horsepower, and a turbocharged option which pumps out 227 horsepower. Mazda will be discontinuing the 6 after the 2021 model year, closing the ledger on a mid-sized car with moderate performance. 

Nissan Maxima: a pricey low effort sedan

Classified as a full-size car, the Maxima uses a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 300 horsepower. Unfortunately, that’s where the positives begin and end, according to Consumer Reports. The Maxima is otherwise plagued with a lazy transmission, lackluster handling, and stiff suspension. It scored well in the road test and predicted reliability, but low in predicted owner satisfaction. It’s full of safety features and starts among the highest on this list at $37,090.

Nissan Altima: an unremarkable experience

The Nissans trail the Toyotas and Mazda in providing a fulfilled driving experience, and the Altima fits in line with the Subaru. Two engine options exist for the Altima, including a 2.5-liter inline-four delivering 182 horsepower and a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four producing 236 horsepower. Consumer Reports describes the ride as “unremarkable”, but that might appeal to someone looking for an “A-to-B” car. For $24,550, it might be worth the extra hunt to find something that’s more enjoyable. 

Bottom of the barrel sedans

Rounding out the top 10 from Consumer Reports is the Dodge Charger, which has several engine and drivetrain options spanning a whole spectrum of prices, followed by the Volkswagen Passat, and the Kia K5. The VW and Kia are among the cheapest on this list, and both seem to offer a comprehensive ride. 

Both are comfortable and easy to operate and get decent gas mileage. For a more fun drive, the Charger could be a solid choice. However, for a more well-rounded driving experience, with decent power and handling, the 300 horsepower Camry might actually have earned its #1 spot.

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