- The Irvine PD reportedly spent $150,000 to buy and modify a Tesla Cybertruck.
- The costly Cybertruck is mainly for show, as it will promote the DARE program.
- The move that upset taxpayers is perplexing, given Rivian’s presence in Irvine.
Police in Irvine, California have a shiny new ride as the department reportedly shelled out $150,000 on a Tesla Cybertruck. That’s causing controversy and claims of government waste.
According to Forbes, the department shelled out $99,990 for a Cyberbeast and an additional $20,000 to get it in Foundation Series guise. The city then paid thousands more to transform the vehicle into a police truck.
More: Tesla Cybertruck Joins The Police, May Pull You Over Later This Year
To make matters even worse, the pickup sounds like a rolling publicity stunt as it’s designed to promote their Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. This might be fine for the Dubai Police, but some tax payers are upset.
When the department originally announced plans for a Cybertruck in July, one critic mocked the move by saying “Good to see my tax money being wasted for something [that] isn’t practical in law enforcement.” Another said, “There is no need for a[n] expensive Cybertruck when … Ford Explorers can do the same at lower costs.”
Up.fit
Others pointed out that Rivian has a design and engineering facility in Irvine, so it’s kind of a slap in the face to buy a Cybertruck. It’s hard to disagree with that, especially considering a Rivian R1T would be cheaper as pricing starts at $69,900.
It’s also impossible not to mention the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV. The former starts at $62,995 while the latter costs $96,495 in First Edition guise. Even a GMC Hummer EV Pickup would have been cheaper than the Cybertruck as it starts at $98,845.
Of course, none of that really matters as you can’t put a price on cool. Well actually you can, according to the Irvine Police Department.
