New details about the $400 million US authorities contract for “armored Tesla” automobiles that was reportedly placed on maintain makes it look shady.
Earlier this month, we reported that the US State Division’s procurement forecast for the 2025 finances included an merchandise known as “Armored Teslas” value $400 million.
As we reported, the merchandise was added after the US election, however earlier than Trump got here into workplace in January.
After the merchandise grew to become publicized, the State Division stated that this system was on maintain, and it even eliminated “Tesla” from the merchandise line and changed it with “EV”. Trump’s State Deparment insisted that the talks with Tesla began beneath the Biden administration.
Nonetheless, a brand new report from NPR factors to some shenanigans across the contract after the elections.
Sources aware of the talks with Tesla beneath the Biden administration instructed NPR that there have been discussions about armoring electrical automobiles, and a finances of lower than $500,000 was set for 2025 for it:
The individual stated the State Division and Tesla had agreed through the Biden administration to conduct analysis about armoring electrical automobiles, however no cash had been put aside to buy armored Teslas for the State Division. A complete finances of $483,000 had been accredited to purchase light-duty EVs as attainable State Division automobiles. That plan was transferring ahead as just lately as November 2024.
It’s not clear how the contract ramped up from lower than half one million to $400 million.
A former state official instructed NPR:
“I don’t assume this can be a clerical error. It was possible somebody who’s new in [the] State [Department] who determined, ‘OK, we’re gonna do that with Tesla,’” stated the previous official, who was not approved to discuss the matter.
With these new particulars, NPR went again to the State Division. A spokesperson stated that the determine was simply “an estimate,” and added that it was nonetheless within the early levels and “strictly to collect info.”
The State Division added that it “has no intention to maneuver ahead with the solicitation.”
Electrek’s Take
That’s shady as hell. The place did the $400 million determine come from? Why was “armored Tesla” on a line for meals manufacturing?
This seems like an enormous complete shady mess, however that’s on par for this administration.
