GM will build 10 made-to-order Suburbans over the next two years as part of a development contract valued at $36.4 million. The SUVs will be produced for the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
If $3.64 million per Suburban sounds a little high to you, GM Defense says that the SUVs require a new and unique body-on-frame chassis that is specially designed to support increased government vehicle requirements with higher payload capacity and greater ground vehicle weight.
The Suburbans will use off-the-shelf parts for the body, the propulsion system, the brakes, and more. GM Defense will use advanced manufacturing techniques, including fixtureless assembly and flexible fabrication to support increased efficiencies in manufacturing. It also means that the Suburbans’ price tags are lower than they would have otherwise been, the company says.
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“We’re excited to be developing a fully-integrated, purpose-built HD Suburban in partnership with the U.S. Department of State,” said Steve duMont, president of GM Defense. “The Chevrolet Suburban has been an iconic name in commercial transportation since 1935. Our development contract win speaks to our long-standing legacy of exceeding transportation capabilities and our new, HD Suburban will deliver government-specific advanced mobility solutions to meet the needs of DSS.”
The first 10 vehicles are being built as the first step in GM Defense’s relationship with the DSS. Following their completion, the division expects another contract to follow that will see it build roughly 200 HD Suburbans per year for nine years starting in May 2023.
Although GM Defense has not made the method of propulsion clear, the Biden administration has said that it is invested in electrifying the federal fleet. Whether that will include these vehicles will be interesting to see but GM Defense has developed both electric and hydrogen vehicles.
