GM To Build US President’s New ‘Beast’, Supply Secret Service With Chevys Posing As Escalades

For years, if you spotted a fleet of blacked-out, hulking SUVs ferrying America’s highest-profile figures, chances are they were Chevrolet Suburban in (super) heavy-duty trim. But change is on the horizon, and it comes with a new badge up front. The US Secret Service is now eyeing a different vehicle for its next generation of armored transport, one that trades the familiar Chevy bowtie for Cadillac’s crest.

According to reports, the Secret Service is in ongoing talks with GM to develop a new fleet of armored SUVs based on the Chevy Suburban but with Cadillac Escalade badges and looks. And that’s not all, as GM is working on the next iteration of the presidential limousine. However, like most things involving bespoke, heavily armored vehicles, that project will take some time before we see results.

Discussions about the upcoming SUV fleet took place last week during a meeting at GM’s Global Design Center in Warren, Michigan, where Sean Curran, head of the Secret Service, met with GM executives to review potential advancements.

More: 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL Is Long, Really Long

Photos from the event were shared by the agency on its social media channels, showing what TheDrive speculates to be a modified version of GM Defense’s Suburban Shield with new Cadillac Escalade looks. The full-size SUV sits on thick-wall tires and sports both the presidential and U.S. flags on the hood. Additional upgrades will likely include armored glass, reinforced body panels, and advanced tech systems tucked inside the cabin.

The US Secret Service shared the following post on Facebook:

“Transporting our leaders and dignitaries requires constant innovation. As threats evolve, we continue to explore emerging technologies to ensure our armored vehicles provide the highest level of safety for our protectees. This week, Secret Service Director Sean Curran met with GM executives to discuss advancements that could benefit the next generation of armored SUVs.”

United States Secret Service / Facebook

Citing insider sources from the briefing, Reuters reports that GM CEO Mary Barra has already met with President Donald Trump to discuss the vehicles. In recent years, the U.S. Secret Service has relied on modified versions of various SUVs, including the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, Ford Explorer and Expedition, and Dodge Durango.

Next Generation of ‘The Beast’ in Progress

Beyond the SUVs that will fill the role of the support vehicles, General Motors also has a much larger, more complex project in the pipeline: a successor to the presidential limo, famously known as “The Beast.” According to Reuters, GM secured a $14.8 million contract in September 2024 from the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service to develop the new model, a detail that hasn’t been previously reported. Total costs could reach $40.8 million by the time the vehicles are delivered through 2029.

Details are still under wraps, though a Secret Service spokesperson told Reuters: “Our engineering, protective operations and technical security teams work for years to develop the state-of-the-art framework that is used to produce these highly advanced vehicles”, adding that “We are too far out to speak to any specific costs or dates”.

The current version of the presidential limousine debuted back in 2018, crafted as a bespoke Cadillac sedan atop a chassis derived from the GMC TopKick heavy-duty truck. Weighing in at an estimated 20,000 pounds (about 9,100 kg), it’s built to withstand a range of threats most of us hope to never encounter. For comparison, earlier generations of “The Beast” rolled out in 2001 and 2009, each upping the ante on protection and technology.