Skip to main content

Tesla waves arrivederci to federal loans, calls Chrysler un-American

Tesla Model S
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Looks like we have quite the little scuffle on our hands between Tesla and Chrysler.

Last night, Tesla announced that it had officially repaid – nine years early – its $465-million loan from the Department of Energy, bragging it was the first U.S. company to do so.

This morning, Chrysler exerted that it was in fact the first automaker to repay its government loans, not Tesla.

Never one to take a fight lying down, Tesla founder Elon Musk fired back on Twitter saying, “As many have already noted, Chrysler is a division of Fiat, an Italian company. We specifically said first ‘U.S.’ company. More importantly, Chrysler failed to pay back $1.3B. Apart (from) those 2 points, you were totally 1st.”

In a Detroit News interview, Chrysler spokesman Gualberto Ranieri said: “I am the first to understand that this is open to an endless debate. Technically, Chrysler was the first to repay its government loans, General Motors was the second.”

It at least warrants a chuckle that the Chrysler spokesperson chosen to reinforce Chrysler’s American standing has perhaps one of the most Italian sounding names of all time. Oh the irony!

So why did Tesla repay the loans with such expediency? Apparently, some potential customers were off-put by the DOE loan hanging over Tesla’s head. “It just felt right” to repay the loans early, Musk told Bloomberg news. “I just feel better having done it.”

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Nick Jaynes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
Volkswagen ID.4 vs Tesla Model Y
volkswagen id4 vs tesla model y 2021 id 4 blue charging

The electric car world is seriously heating up, with a number of high-end electric crossovers now available, albeit still at a higher price than comparable gas-powered cars. The Tesla Model Y is one of the first of these, offering the Tesla design, a high-tech software experience, and more. But another one of the older of these models is the Volkswagen ID.4, which was first released in 2021 and also offers among the better electric car experiences out there.

Can the ID.4 compete with one of the best-selling electric cars out there? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to compare between these two cars is design, and they take a slightly different approach.

Read more
Tesla’s Elon Musk can build his unusual Supercharger station
The design of Tesla's proposed Supercharger station that will include a 1950s-themed diner.

Aside from building electric cars, batteries, and solar panels, Tesla is also looking to build a Supercharger station with a difference.

The automaker has reportedly received planning permission to construct an all-night diner and drive-in movie theater in Los Angeles, Teslarati reported recently.

Read more
Tesla launches more affordable Model S and Model X, but there’s a catch
A 2021 Tesla Model S.

Tesla has launched more affordable versions of its Model S sedan and Model X SUV in the U.S. and Canada, though they come with shorter driving ranges. Deliveries of the new vehicles will begin next month.

The new Model S "standard range" vehicles cost $78,490 and offer a range of up to 320 miles (515 kilometers), which is considerably shorter than the pricier regular dual-motor and tri-motor Plaid versions that feature a range of 405 miles and 396 miles, respectively, Reuters reported.

Read more