The US Department of State has removed the name “Tesla” from a list of planned purchases, citing an incorrect entry that included a $400 million proposal to buy new electric armoured vehicles. The department had listed the Cybertruck as the most likely model, but said the order was on hold due to the mistake.
A procurement forecast produced by the department showed Tesla as the expected supplier, but a spokesperson later clarified that it should have been a generic entry reading “electric vehicle manufacturer”. This change raises questions about potential conflicts of interest for Elon Musk, who leads both Tesla and SpaceX, a major contractor providing space launch services to the US government.
Musk has been accused by former President Donald Trump of wasting taxpayer money, and has since implemented cuts to various government departments. While some experts have criticized these efforts as unconstitutional, Musk maintains that his actions are transparent.
The Department of State had announced plans to procure armoured electric vehicles in December, but the listing has now been removed. The move comes after an independent outlet reported on the original plan, prompting a change to the document.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/feb/13/us-department-of-state-plans-to-spend-400m-on-tesla-armoured-vehicles-elon-musk