GM is in discussions with the Secret Service to develop a successor to the Chevy Suburban HD, which will be branded as an Escalade.

      U.S. Secret Service

      General Motors has a rich history of holding government contracts globally. In the U.S., Cadillac has been the preferred brand for presidential state vehicles since the 1980s. However, recent reports indicate that the U.S. Secret Service might consider a switch, potentially replacing its standard heavy-duty Suburbans with Cadillac models.

      Through its official social media accounts, the Secret Service shared a photo of what seems to be an armored Escalade inspired by GM Defense’s Suburban Shield, a Chevrolet Suburban HD with many “commercial-off-the-shelf components.” This is significant because, while the current presidential state vehicle is known as “The Beast,” a specially designed Cadillac on a heavy-duty truck chassis, the support cars used by the agency for the protection of the president and foreign dignitaries have been Suburbans.

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

      According to Reuters, the meeting took place at the GM Global Design Center in Warren, Michigan. The news agency also reported that the automaker received a $14.8 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service to develop a new iteration of “The Beast.”

      Reuters highlighted that this new contract had not been previously disclosed. However, given vehicle development timelines, this process will not be completed quickly, possibly not even within this administration’s term.

      “We are too far out to address any specific costs or timelines,” a Secret Service spokesperson informed Reuters. “Our engineering, protective operations, and technical security teams work for years to create the advanced framework required to manufacture these highly sophisticated vehicles.”

      U.S. Secret Service

      Aside from a fleet-only 3500HD variant, a Suburban HD has not been available to the public for over a decade since the 2500HD was discontinued after the 2014 model year. That situation is likely to persist. As for an Escalade HD, that model has never existed; while Escalades do have some heavy-duty features, none have been officially labeled with “HD” branding.

      However, with contracts finalized and funding confirmed, we can expect to see one eventually, right? And perhaps, just perhaps, that vehicle might be adapted into a consumer version. Probably not, though. But you could always purchase an Escalade ESV and customize it with aftermarket military-grade protections.