The US State Department plans to purchase up to $400 million worth of armored Tesla Cybertruck pickups, according to a procurement forecast published in December 2025. The armoured version of the electric vehicle is expected to provide advanced protection features for government officials.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and a close advisor to former President Trump on reducing government spending, is likely to receive a lucrative contract for supplying the Cybertrucks. However, this has raised concerns about potential conflict-of-interest issues due to Musk’s involvement in cutting costs and his recent criticism of unnecessary federal spending on social media.
The armoured Cybertruck features a stainless steel body and would be more suitable than other models for government transport. Tesla is expected to partner with firms like Armormax to upgrade the vehicles, which could command up to $250 million. The State Department also plans to purchase BMW sport utility vehicles worth $40 million as part of the procurement forecast.
The Cybertruck’s high price point and modest sales figures have raised questions about its suitability for government use. Despite this, Musk has touted the vehicle’s defensive capabilities on social media, calling it “apocalypse ready.”
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/us/politics/trump-tesla-musk-cybertruck.html