U.S. State Department Planning To Spend Big On Armoured Teslas

The U.S. Department of State appears to be in the market for $400 million worth of armored electric vehicles.

While Tesla’s name was initially attached to the deal, the reference was quietly deleted. According to independent outlet, Drop Site News, a procurement forecast first published in December 2024 specifically mentioned “armored Tesla (production units),” but a revised version now lists “armored electric vehicles” instead, dropping any brand affiliation. The revision was allegedly made after DSN's original report earlier this week.

It's likely the armoured Tesla units are Cybertrucks given Elon Musk’s past claims about the stainless steel electric truck being bullet-proof.

Musk appeared to acknowledge the deal in a post on X, the social media platform he owns, but downplayed the reported figure, stating: “I’m pretty sure Tesla isn’t getting $400M. No one mentioned it to me, at least.” He also suggested that other companies might be involved in upgrading the vehicles, depending on the level of protection required.

If the deal goes through, it adds another wrinkle to Musk’s relationship with the U.S. government. While Tesla and SpaceX have benefited significantly from federal contracts, Musk has also taken on a role in Donald Trump’s administration as the head of a government efficiency task force—known as Doge—leading initiatives to slash government spending.

Whether Tesla secures the full contract or shares it with other manufacturers remains uncertain. The contract is still in the planning phase, with an expected award date by the end of September. The modification to remove Tesla’s name suggests the Department of State may be attempting to downplay the direct connection to Musk’s company.

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