Luxon ordered then cancelled tax payer funded Tesla

[Lilith7]

Not really a good look.

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politi...subsidies/

"National Party leader Christopher Luxon had a fully taxpayer-funded Tesla on order for his use at the same time as he was publicly bashing the Government’s EV policy for subsidising “wealthy Tesla drivers”. The Tesla would have been for Luxon’s use, although he would not have owned it.

The Herald understands Luxon was talked out of ordering the car by horrified staff and at least one senior MP, who believed the purchase would be a massive political risk.
The order was placed last year, shortly before Luxon lashed out at the Government for its clean car discount policy, telling Newshub’s AM Show Labour was taxing people driving utes to help “wealthy Tesla drivers by giving them subsidies”. The Government’s clean car discount, under last year’s settings, took more than $8000 off the price of a Tesla.

“After initially indicating he would take up the offer, Mr Luxon quickly concluded he did not need it and cancelled the order,” he said.

The episode has shone a light on Luxon’s political judgment. Some MPs and staff were aware of the purchase and believed it would be politically damaging for Luxon to be driving a taxpayer-funded Tesla while criticising Government subsidies for Teslas. The episode has led to some raised eyebrows in the National Party at Luxon’s inability to see an obvious political risk.

Luxon already owns a Tesla, which is kept in Auckland."