BMW beats Tesla to LAPD contract

Tesla has lost out to BMW for a lucrative police contract in its hometown.

BMW is leasing the Los Angeles Police Department 100 electric cars – its i3 plug-in – after Tesla’s P85D.

The Tesla was more than twice the price of the plug-in BMW.

The LA Times reports that LAPD’s transport division boss Vartan Yegivan said the BMWs would cost around US$1.4m for a three-year lease, including maintenance and servicing costs.

Another US$1.5 would be spent on charging infrastructure for the i3s and future electric vehicles.

The 100 cars bring the LAPD electric fleet to 200 EVs, and will be used for community outreach and “other police business,” not as patrol or pursuit vehicles.