Even if you don't owe AMT it may be difficult to qualify for this credit in the year you take delivery of the car. The Tentative Minimum Tax (TMT) is the critical parameter. Generally speaking, for those who don't fall under the AMT, the TMT will be a number that is less than the AMT threshold and possibly close to what the regular tax already is. It turns out the 8911 form compares your TMT with your regular tax minus the $7,500 credit. In my case, the $7,500 reduction in my regular tax made it a smaller number than the TMT so no credit. Said another way, in the year you take delivery of the car, the TMT value effectively is increased by $7,500 for the purposes of the property credit.
Thanks goodness the $7,500 does not figure directly into the TMT/AMT calculations on form 6251. It could be enough to push many folks above the threshold and be subject to the AMT.