This story doesn't add up, or is lacking informed details.
One, usually EV rebates directly benefit the end vehicle buyer, in this case the Canadian citizen. Tesla or other, would benefit from increased sales incentive. Are you saying Tesla has ghost transactions and is claiming the incentive themselves?
Second, it's not clear if the rebate is in the form of a reimbursement. And if it's a reimbursement, there is likely a time range to apply paperwork for it. I assume the dealerships are reimbursed for the EV rebates they give when closing the sale.
Could be malicious compliance with a shoddy system. Probably not, governments make the best systems.
it is very unlikely that tesla sales surged instantly in a short time frame just before ev rebate benefits ended, especially at a time when tesla sales are tanking sharply globally
the process around rebates is not well guarded and tesla has clearly done something fraudulent here trying to claim half the pool of funds that were available
Quote
The Toronto Star reported that four Tesla outlets filed for 8,653 EV sales in just 72 hours, worth $43.1 million in rebates. This ultimately led to the portal’s shutdown, leaving hundreds of dealerships without a way to recoup the rebates they had offered to buyers at the point of sale.
Independent dealerships have reportedly spent $10 million out of pocket. Now a Canada Automobile Dealers Association spokesperson thinks Tesla may have done something unusual, possibly illegal.
Here’s more from the Star:
“These dealers in good faith gave customers the money for a program that is always refunded,” said CADA spokesperson Huw Williams. “They shouldn’t be left making a payment on behalf of the Government of Canada.”
“Tesla had a run on the bank,” said Williams. “Somehow, Tesla gamed the system.”
As per Transport Canada rules, rebate applications "must" be filed before the car is delivered. But that rule was apparently not being enforced, so it’s possible that previous claims were filed right before the rebate program was ending. Some officials likened that to the “Black Friday” of EV sales.
One Tesla store in Quebec City alone filed for 4,000 rebates in a weekend, according to the report. Now dealerships that were unable to file for reimbursements are in the red for as much as half a million dollars.