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Canoo Vans Idle: NASA & USPS Halt Use of Bankrupt EV
9 Dec
Summary
- NASA halted use of Canoo vans citing failure to meet mission requirements.
- USPS completed an evaluation of six Canoo vans and is not investing further.
- Former CEO Tony Aquila bid $4 million for Canoo assets to support government programs.
NASA and the United States Postal Service have stopped utilizing electric vans manufactured by the recently bankrupt EV startup, Canoo. NASA purchased three of these vans in 2023 for astronaut transport to the launchpad for its Artemis Moon missions. However, the space agency stated that Canoo could no longer meet their specific mission needs, leading to the discontinuation of their use.
The USPS had also acquired six Canoo vans in 2024 for evaluation purposes. A spokesperson confirmed that these vehicles are no longer in use and that the evaluation has concluded with no further investments planned. The postal service did not disclose any specific details or outcomes from this evaluation process.
Canoo, which faced significant financial difficulties for years, filed for bankruptcy in January 2025. Shortly thereafter, former CEO Tony Aquila made a $4 million bid for the company's assets, expressing a desire to continue service and support for certain government programs. The bankruptcy judge approved the sale to Aquila in April 2025.
