Tesla Wins Bid for Taiwan Military’s Electric Vehicle Fleet

Tesla recently won a bid for the Taiwan military's electric vehicle fleet. An image of the first military-use Model 3 was initially shared online through the Tesla Owners Taiwan Twitter handle, depicting a vehicle fitted with an official military license plate.

As revealed by documents from Taiwan, the military (known as the Republic of China Military Police or ROCMP), sent out an open tender for its upcoming electric vehicle fleet. They sent an initial budget of 3.18 million Taiwanese dollars (about US$103,000) for the initiative.

Tesla won the contract, which resulted in the military purchasing two Model 3 Standard Range Plus units for exactly NT$3 million. The remaining budget went to the purchase of Wall Chargers and a solar system to charge the vehicles.

Credit: Republic of China Military Police

The Taiwanese military appears to be satisfied with its purchase of the Model 3 Standard Range Plus, due to the vehicles' robust suite of features, tech, and performance. Following the two sedans that have been purchased already, the ROCMP has decided to buy up to 20 more electric cars from Tesla. With this, the Model 3 may have just become the Taiwan military's vehicle of choice.

Tesla's win in Taiwan can pave the way for more countries and organizations adopting the Model 3 for official use. The ROCMP is a respected branch of the government in Taiwan, so it would not be too farfetched to speculate that more agencies may purchase the vehicle for their official use as well. This widespread adoption will likely not stop in Taiwan either. With the ROCMP already on board, other countries' militaries may opt for Teslas as well. 

Hey @elonmusk Taiwan military now uses model 3. Note the license plate with the word 軍(military) on it. @tesla @TeslaOwnersTwn pic.twitter.com/jrKoHQLkKg

— Tesla Owners Taiwan (@TeslaOwnersTwn) February 13, 2020

Using Teslas for official purposes is not a foreign concept. However, the relatively high entry price for the Model S sedan and Model X SUV became a challenge for the widespread adoption of Teslas for government use in the past. This is one of the reasons why, in the United States, there have been a number of Model S police cars that have been made, yet only a handful remain in active service. This issue does not exist with the Model 3, since the vehicle's entry price is much closer to conventional cars and premium sedans. 

With its lower price and healthy feature set, the vehicle offers a bang-for-the-buck package that is difficult to beat, especially considering the all-electric sedan's low operating costs. It's pertinent to note that this adoption is just for the Model 3. When the Cybertruck, with its tough exterior and affordable price, enters the market, there will be very few reasons for government agencies to not purchase a Tesla. 

Featured Image Credit: Michael Hsu/Twitter