DETROIT — Basic Motors’ protection arm mentioned it has received a $36.4 million contract to construct 10 heavy-duty armored Suburban SUVs for the U.S. Division of State.
GM Protection mentioned Wednesday it plans to ship the purpose-built Suburbans over the subsequent two years as a part of a growth contract for the division’s Diplomatic Safety Service.
In 2023, the GM subsidiary expects to commit to a different contract that features annual manufacturing of 200 heavy-duty Suburbans for 9 years. GM Protection didn’t disclose the funding quantity for the manufacturing contract.
The heavy-duty Suburban is being developed for a singular safety mission, GM Protection mentioned, which requires armoring and different efficiency enhancements. The ten preliminary SUVs, plus two take a look at automobiles, will likely be constructed at GM’s proving floor in Milford, Mich.
The Suburban additionally will characteristic a brand new body-on-frame chassis and suspension designed to assist authorities car efficiency necessities with the next payload capability than the light-duty fashions and higher floor car weight, GM Protection mentioned in an announcement.
GM Protection will use business off-the-shelf elements for the SUVs, together with superior manufacturing instruments and methods to scale back prices, reminiscent of fixtureless meeting and versatile fabrication to assist elevated efficiencies and high quality in low-volume manufacturing of the brand new chassis and body.
GM Protection delivered its first Infantry Squad Automobile, based mostly on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, in October as a part of a $214.3 million protection contract. GM Protection mentioned it would construct 649 ISVs by 2024 and can assist manufacturing of as much as 2,065 automobiles with extra authorization over eight years.
The ISV was the primary main product for GM Protection because it was reestablished by the automaker in 2017. The unique GM Protection, which helped U.S. fight efforts starting with World Struggle I, was acquired by Basic Dynamics in 2003.