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Hoffman is developing the Badger, a platform that uses components and software from used Tesla Model 3s and Model Ys to create vehicles such as vans and pickups. The company plans to offer kits and fully assembled vehicles, but pricing, production timing and final specifications remain subject to change.
Startup Hoffman is developing the Badger, a platform that repurposes components from used Tesla vehicles to build new vans, pickups and other vehicle types. The company plans to sell it both as a self-build kit and as a complete vehicle, offering a route to reuse Tesla hardware in shapes the original cars were not designed to take.
As reported by The Drive, Hoffman takes components from used Teslas, including seats, steering wheels, screens, airbags, computers and software, and combines them with a company-designed platform. The source describes the donor vehicles as Tesla’s smaller sedan and SUV, the Model 3 and Model Y. The Badger is intended to accommodate different bodies, with pickup trucks, vans and buses among the possibilities.
A demonstration vehicle shown to Out of Spec Reviews was an off-road-oriented utility van. Its described features include removable doors and roof panels, aggressive approach and departure angles, and a raised battery pack intended to improve its breakover angle. The pictured prototype had a flat dashboard and floor, with a Tesla steering wheel and central touchscreen.
Hoffman plans to offer the Badger as a kit with a vehicle identification number, leaving buyers to source donor Tesla parts and assemble the vehicle, or as a turnkey build assembled by Hoffman. Chief Executive Geoffrey Hoffman told Out of Spec that expected prices would vary with configuration. The report gave a broad anticipated range of $24,950 to $82,490, describing it as above the price of a Slate pickup and below the Cybertruck. Hoffman said it expects to produce about 100 vehicles a year; the report did not give a production start date.
A New Use for Tesla Donor Cars
The project could give some used or salvage Tesla components a second role in vehicles built for work or recreation rather than conventional passenger-car use. For buyers interested in a customized van or truck, reusing an existing vehicle’s electronics and drivetrain could offer a different path from buying a new, purpose-built EV. The practical value will depend on the cost and availability of donor cars, the kit’s completeness, and how easy the vehicles are to build and maintain.
Hoffman says vehicles using Tesla code will retain access to Tesla’s Supercharger network and remote app controls. Those are company-reported expectations, not independently verified details about final production vehicles. If the project reaches customers as planned, it would also test whether a small builder can combine secondhand components and its own chassis into a repeatable vehicle business. Hoffman’s stated target of about 100 units annually is modest, and the report does not establish how many buyers have ordered or how many vehicles can be built.
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From EV Conversions to Badger
Hoffman previously carried out electric-vehicle conversions for DeLoreans, according to the report. The Badger applies that experience to a platform intended for multiple vehicle bodies, rather than converting one existing model at a time. It draws on Tesla components while using a bespoke platform designed by Hoffman.
The concept follows broader interest in modular electric vehicles built around skateboard-style platforms. Hoffman’s approach, as described, is distinct in that it combines its own platform with parts and software harvested from existing Teslas. The demonstration van’s utilitarian interior and unusual four-rectangular-headlight design show that the project is still oriented toward customization, rather than a polished mass-market vehicle.
“Pricing will obviously be highly variable depending on what the buyer wants.”
— Geoffrey Hoffman, Hoffman chief executive, speaking to Out of Spec Reviews
Costs, Timing and Compatibility
The report does not establish when Badger production will begin, whether customers have placed orders, or whether Hoffman has completed the engineering and regulatory work required for sale in each intended market. Its estimate of about 100 vehicles per year is a company expectation, not a confirmed output figure.
The quoted price range is broad and the final cost of a kit build may also depend on the price and condition of donor Tesla parts, labor and the buyer’s chosen configuration. The source does not detail warranties, service arrangements, safety testing, crash performance, or exactly which Tesla models and components will be compatible. Hoffman’s statements about Supercharger access and app controls also have not been confirmed for a production vehicle.
Evidence Needed Before Deliveries
The next useful milestones would be a firmer production schedule, final specifications and itemized pricing, followed by details about component compatibility and vehicle certification. Prospective buyers will also need to know how Hoffman handles assembly support, repairs and warranty coverage, particularly for vehicles built from parts with differing histories.
Until the company provides those details and begins customer builds, the Badger remains a development-stage proposal supported by a demonstration vehicle and Hoffman’s stated plans. The source report does not identify a scheduled launch event or delivery date.
Key Questions
What is Hoffman’s Badger?
The Badger is Hoffman’s planned platform for building vehicles such as vans and pickups using Tesla components and software alongside a company-designed platform.
Can buyers build one themselves?
Hoffman plans to offer a kit with a VIN for customers to build, with Tesla donor parts not included, as well as a turnkey version assembled by the company. The report does not give detailed build instructions or support terms.
How much is a Badger expected to cost?
The report cites an anticipated range of $24,950 to $82,490, based on comments from CEO Geoffrey Hoffman. The price is expected to vary with configuration and is not presented as a final price list.
Will Badger vehicles use Tesla Superchargers?
Hoffman says vehicles running Tesla code will support the Supercharger network and remote app controls. The report does not independently verify how those services will work on production Badgers.
When will the Badger go on sale?
The source report does not state a production start date or delivery schedule. Hoffman has said it expects to produce about 100 vehicles annually, but that figure is a company projection.
Source: thedrive.com
