NASA and USPS stop using Canoo EVs despite CEO’s pledged support

NASA and the United States Postal Service (USPS) have ceased using electric vans produced by Canoo, an EV startup that filed for bankruptcy in January 2025. NASA had purchased three Canoo vans in 2023 to transport astronauts for its Artemis lunar missions but discontinued their use after Canoo failed to meet mission requirements. NASA is now leasing Boeing’s Airstream-built “Astrovan” for crew transport. Similarly, the USPS stopped using six Canoo vehicles acquired for evaluation in 2024, concluding the assessment with no plans for further investment. The Department of Defense also received at least one demonstration van from Canoo, but its current usage status is unknown. Following Canoo’s bankruptcy, former CEO Tony Aquila made a $4 million bid to acquire the company’s assets, citing a commitment to support government programs that used Canoo vehicles. The bankruptcy judge approved Aquila’s purchase in April 2025, despite competing interest from other parties, including Harbinger—a company