TL;DR
Get business pricing on garage and car supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
Hoffman, a startup with experience converting DeLoreans to electric power, is developing the Badger, a vehicle platform that reuses components from used Tesla Model 3s and Model Ys. The company plans to offer kits and fully assembled vehicles, but production timing, final prices and specifications have not been confirmed.
Startup Hoffman is developing the Badger, a platform for turning components from used Tesla Model 3 sedans and Model Y crossovers into vehicles such as vans, pickups and buses. The company plans to offer a self-build kit and a fully assembled version, a proposal that could give Tesla components from damaged or unwanted cars another use, though production timing and final specifications remain unclear.
As described by The Drive, Hoffman intends to reuse parts including Tesla seats, steering wheels, screens and airbags, as well as computers and software. The Badger pairs those components with a bespoke platform rather than simply rebuilding the original Tesla body. The company previously carried out electric-vehicle conversions for DeLoreans.
A prototype shown to Out of Spec Reviews was an off-road-oriented utility van. It has a raised battery pack, aggressive approach and departure angles, and removable doors and roof panels. Its cabin uses a flat dashboard and floor, with a Tesla steering wheel and central touchscreen. The demonstration vehicle is a prototype, not evidence that a production model is ready for sale.
Hoffman plans to sell the Badger as a kit with a vehicle identification number, with buyers sourcing the Tesla donor parts themselves, or as a turnkey vehicle assembled in-house. Chief Executive Geoffrey Hoffman told Out of Spec that pricing would vary by configuration. The report gives a broad expected range of $24,950 to $82,490, while noting that the company expects prices to be above those of a Slate pickup and below the Cybertruck. Hoffman expects a production capacity of about 100 vehicles per year; the report does not establish that this output has begun.
A Second Use for Tesla Hardware
The proposal addresses a practical challenge in vehicle conversions: electric powertrains and their associated electronics can be expensive and difficult to integrate. By retaining Tesla computers and software alongside components such as screens and seats, Hoffman is seeking to build new vehicle shapes around systems already developed for mass-market cars. That approach could appeal to buyers who want an electric work vehicle or a customized project without commissioning every component from scratch.
The concept also raises questions about how far a donor vehicle’s existing systems can be carried into a new body and platform. The report says Badger vehicles are intended to retain access to Tesla’s Supercharger network and app-based controls. Those are company plans reported by The Drive, not independently documented details about a finished, customer-delivered vehicle. For buyers, the distinction matters: compatibility, service arrangements, safety certification and the cost of obtaining donor parts could shape whether the idea is practical.
Products Worth Considering
Milwaukee M18 FUEL Automotive Combo Kit, 1/2-Inch High-Torque and 3/8-Inch Impact Wrenches
Autel MaxiCOM MK808BT PRO Bidirectional OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner
DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit (DCK277D2)
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Tesla Donors to Badger Builds
Hoffman’s concept sits between a conventional vehicle conversion and a clean-sheet electric vehicle. Instead of taking a completed Tesla and changing only its body, the company proposes harvesting selected parts from used Model 3s and Model Ys, then combining them with a separate bespoke platform. The aim is to use the donor cars’ components in vehicles with different layouts and purposes.
The Drive report describes the Badger as a flexible basis for vans, pickups, buses and other forms, but the illustrated vehicle is a single utility-van prototype. Its spare interior and unusual exterior details show that the project is still a developing product rather than a polished range of finished vehicles. Hoffman’s earlier DeLorean conversion work provides relevant company background, but it does not by itself establish the Badger’s production readiness or commercial performance.
“Pricing will obviously be highly variable depending on what the buyer wants.”
— Geoffrey Hoffman, Hoffman chief executive, speaking to Out of Spec
Production and Compatibility Questions
The available report does not give a production start date, delivery schedule or confirmed order details. It is also unclear how many donor Teslas the company has secured, how buyers will locate suitable parts, or whether Hoffman will offer a consistent set of specifications across builds. The cited price range is an estimate, not a published final price list.
Other open questions include the Badger’s range, payload, towing capacity, crash testing and certification status. The report says the vehicles are intended to use Tesla software and support Supercharging and remote app controls, but it does not provide independent testing or confirmation of how those services would work after components are moved to a different platform. No details are provided on warranty coverage, maintenance support or the effect of donor-vehicle condition on reliability.
Evidence Needed Before Sales
The next milestones would be further development of the prototype, publication of build specifications and confirmation of how the kit and turnkey options will be delivered. Buyers would need clearer information on final pricing, certification, warranty terms and charging compatibility before judging the vehicles as practical alternatives to conventional vans or pickups.
Hoffman’s stated target of about 100 vehicles annually points to a small-scale operation if production proceeds, but the report does not say when that target might be reached. Until the company releases a schedule and more complete specifications, the Badger remains a developing proposal rather than an established commercial vehicle.
Key Questions
What is Hoffman’s Badger?
The Badger is a vehicle platform Hoffman is developing to combine a bespoke chassis with selected components from used Tesla Model 3s and Model Ys. The company has shown an off-road-oriented utility-van prototype.
Will Hoffman sell complete vehicles or kits?
The company plans to offer both a self-build kit with a VIN, for which buyers would supply Tesla donor parts, and a turnkey version assembled by Hoffman. The report does not give a sales date.
How much is a Badger expected to cost?
The reported expected range is $24,950 to $82,490, with the final amount depending on configuration. These figures are a broad estimate, not confirmed retail prices.
Will Badger vehicles use Tesla charging and app services?
Hoffman’s plan, as reported by The Drive, is for the vehicles to use Tesla software and support Supercharging and remote app controls. Independent confirmation and details about compatibility have not been provided.
How many Badgers will Hoffman build?
Hoffman expects it could produce about 100 vehicles per year. The report does not say production has started or provide a timeline for reaching that capacity.
Source: thedrive.com
