Tesla repaid their loan nine years early and is the only American car company to have fully repaid the government ever. This is a company the American Taxpayer should be truly proud of.
Also, do you really believe Elon Musk started an electric car company, a company which builds rockets and one which is the largest residential solar power provider in the country, under the only premise to make more money?
I would prefer that if the government is using our money to support companies we should at least get an ownership stake. As it stands, E-Mizzle, who already had a large personal fortune, received a huge risk free loan from us.
Perhaps your government felt that there would be non-financial benefits to supporting efforts to make affordable electric cars. Can you not think of any?