That goes for any new lineup. It cost Tesla roughly half a billion to get their Model S to production, but at $48B profit over the past two years, I'm sure it's just the cost of business for Ford to enter a rapidly growing market.
Tesla was artificially subsidized by selling carbon offset credits to traditional manufacturers, for example Ford. Otherwise they would not have been able to sell cars at such a huge loss. I don’t have a citation for this, but it was reported in the FT.
if it wasnt for govt subsidies, there wouldn't also be any cars made by USA ownership from GM, Chrystler etc on the roads, at least for the for the last decade or so.
The primary funds for the development of the Model S was a government loan for renewable technologies. That loan plus interest was paid back.