Tesla CEO Elon Musk has responded to the information that the automaker could be awarded a $400 million contract from the U.S. Division of State to produce the U.S. authorities with armored electrical autos.
Yesterday, we reported that in response to the U.S. Division of State’s Procurement Checklist for 2025, Tesla was set to win a $400 million contract to produce the federal government with armored EVs — most ideally, the Cybertruck could be used.
Tesla projected to win $400M Dept. of State contract for armored EVs
The expenditure was listed within the public record and was added by the earlier White Home as former President Joe Biden was nonetheless in workplace when Tesla was added to the record.
The record doesn’t assure {that a} contract might be awarded, however it does present the Division of State’s “anticipated contract” choices.
In a brief 20 hours for the reason that story was reported, rather a lot has modified.
First, the Division of State up to date the record to take away Tesla’s title from the road the place it listed the award, which means it was both a mistake or a response to potential pushback the general public may need.
🚨 The U.S. Division of State has now modified the Procurement Checklist, eradicating the phrase “Tesla” from the row. It now merely says “Armored Electrical Automobiles.”
Musk mentioned he “is fairly certain” Tesla will not be receiving $400m from the federal government for this mission. https://t.co/VMavkS3ZQg pic.twitter.com/XjheceyVht
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 13, 2025
Contemplating Musk’s place on the publish of the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), it’s comprehensible that some may need an issue with the contract if it have been to be awarded.
Secondly, Musk has responded to claims that the contract was meant on being awarded to Tesla, as he mentioned:
“I’m fairly certain Tesla isn’t getting $400m. Nobody talked about it to me, at the least.”
I’m fairly certain Tesla isn’t getting $400M. Nobody talked about it to me, at the least.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025
There are nonetheless plans to launch a authorities fleet of each armored and plain EVs. Who will win these contracts and be awarded the chance to supply them continues to be up within the air.
Tesla is in a main place to win these contracts due to its deal with home manufacturing and sourcing. Within the U.S., Tesla’s Mannequin Y was probably the most American car, the Vehicles.com examine confirmed. The Mannequin S was fourth, the Mannequin X was ninth, and the Mannequin 3 was twenty first.
The Cybertruck was disqualified from the record attributable to its gross weight.
Tesla additionally has the manufacturing capability and a confirmed observe report of fulfilling it, one thing else that might be a necessity with President Trump within the White Home.
Different carmakers may doubtlessly be within the operating, however they might want to present their capacity to deal with manufacturing the fleet that the federal government may finally purchase.
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