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GM working on next-generation presidential limousine

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Secret Service says too far out to detail costs, dates

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GM CEO, Trump discussed armored SUVs last week - source

(Adds no immediate GM comment, comment from Secret Service)

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, March 21 (Reuters) - The head of the U.S.

Secret Service met with General Motors ( GM ) executives this

week in Michigan to discuss next-generation armored SUVs as the

automaker works on the upcoming version of the presidential

limousine, the agency said Friday.

The Secret Service said on X that Director Sean Curran met

with GM "to discuss advancements that could benefit the next

generation of armored SUVs." GM did not immediately comment on

the meeting at its Global Design Center in Warren, Michigan.

"Countering evolving threats require us to constantly

explore new innovations and improvements to our armored fleet of

protective vehicles," the Secret Service added.

In September, the Homeland Security Department and Secret

Service awarded GM a $14.8 million contract for development of

the next-generation presidential limousine nicknamed "The Beast"

that could be worth up to $40.8 million through 2029.

The contract was previously unreported.

The Secret Service on Friday posted a photo from the visit

that included a Cadillac Escalade SUV outfitted with the

presidential flag next to a large picture of the presidential

seal. The president often travels in an armored Chevrolet

Suburban.

The Secret Service said earlier this week it is not clear

when the next presidential limousine will join the fleet.

"We are too far out to speak to any specific costs or

dates," a Secret Service spokesperson said. "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."

GM CEO Mary Barra met with President Donald Trump last week

and discussed armored SUVs, a person briefed on the meeting

said. The White House did not immediately comment.

In 2018, the Secret Service began using the latest version

of the custom-built Cadillac presidential limousine after the

prior version was introduced in 2009 just before Barack Obama

took office.

Obama said in 2015 that the limo is "a Caddy basically on a

tank frame" and added he "could call a nuclear submarine right

here" from a phone in the car.