Wait! Wasn't that the point of these credits in the first place?

Penalizing ICE auto manufacturers who weren't doing enough switching to clean energy alternatives, while also rewarding the competition that were trying embrace these alternatives?

Effectively having those that weren't doing anything subsidize those that were.

But if he'd not sold them, then the other manufacturers would have been forced to reduce emissions even more - otherwise it's just a cost of business (passed on to consumers).

It's not some altruistic move - it propped up Tesla's balance sheet when it was needed, and makes a mockery of his green credentials.