The Federal Bureau of Investigation has a bit of a public relations headache on its hands. FBI Director Kash Patel has reportedly requested that a fleet of new armored SUVs be ordered for his use, but instead of sticking with the American staple that is the Chevrolet Suburban, Patel reportedly requested BMW X5 Protection SUVs be ordered. These armored luxury SUVs are produced at the German automaker’s Spartanburg Plant in South Carolina, and according to MS Now (formerly MSNBC), they were selected to be “less conspicuous.” We’ll get to that in a moment, but it’s not the only reason that was given to explain the unexpected decision.
FBI Says BMWs Are Cheaper Than Chevys
The outlet spoke to FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson, who confirmed that the BMWs were ordered by the bureau for the director’s use and said that these were more cost-effective than other armored vehicles that were considered. “Government agencies, including the FBI, routinely evaluate, replace and update vehicle fleets based on usage, security needs or budgetary decisions,” said Williamson. “The specific decisions […] were evaluated partly as a way to save taxpayers millions by picking cheaper selections or making cost structures more efficient.”
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The government-spec Chevrolet Suburban Shield from GM Defense can cost from $600,000 to as much as $3.6 million, according to GM Inside News Forum, while the cost of an equivalent BMW is unknown. However, the X5 Protection VR6 costs between $200,000 and $300,000. According to an insider who spoke with the publication, a new Suburban would have cost $480,000, and this was more than double what each BMW in the fleet cost. If that’s accurate, it seems that Director Patel will be riding around in a VR6-rated X5.
BMW Stealthier Than Chevy?
Chevrolet
As for the suggestion that the BMWs are less conspicuous, one might argue that it’s well-known that government agencies use vehicles like the Chevrolet Suburban for transporting officials, and it’s less common knowledge that the government has a contract with BMW for X5 SUVs that the State Department uses to protect diplomats and other officials in high-risk environments worldwide. Therefore, perhaps the implication is that Patel using X5s is a way of sneaking under the radar, though that’s less likely given how much publicity the purchase is attracting. Either way, there’s no doubt that you’re more likely to encounter a Chevy in most of America than a Bimmer. America first saw the Suburban in 1935’s Carryall Suburban (later bearing a GMC badge), which was developed with encouragement from the U.S. Army, and now, in its 12th generation, it’s the longest-lasting moniker in American history.
