But because of a loophole Congress put in the law in August, which the U.S. Treasury defined in December, consumers can now capture that full incentive by leasing the car rather than buying it — regardless of where it is made, where the materials are sourced or any of the other rules.

“The tax credit for leased EVs is more Washington theater where politicians boast about their support for U.S. industry but don’t mention the loopholes lobbyists bought that gut the pretend support,” said Erik Gordon, of the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. “Any car that is leased is classified as a commercial vehicle, even if it is a two-seat convertible. It would make more sense to classify tennis rackets as medical equipment because you get exercise when you use them.”