A revised State Department procurement forecast has listed Tesla as the recipient of a $400 million contract for “armored” vehicles, despite reports suggesting that Elon Musk’s involvement in government contracts is a conflict of interest. The award is expected to be finalized in Q4 and last for five years.
The contract was originally set in motion by the Biden administration as part of its efforts to convert the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s fleet of 3,000 armored vehicles into zero-emission electric vehicles by 2035. However, after publication of a possible award, the State Department edited the public description to remove reference to Tesla.
The procurement document was revised in December 2024, after Donald Trump’s election but before he took office. The State Department did not respond to requests for comment on the reasoning behind the decision.
Elon Musk is both the head of Tesla and a senior government official, which has led to concerns about potential conflicts of interest. The acquisition plan was met with criticism from some, with one commentator labeling it a “garbage heap”. Despite this, Tesla appears set to receive the lucrative contract for its armored vehicles.
Source: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/elon-musk-armored-tesla-forecast-400-million-state-department-contracts