FBI Director Kash Patel is now relying on BMW

Switching from Chevrolet

BMW sedan now protects FBI director

The American Federal Police FBI relies on German quality: the boss’s official vehicle now comes from BMW.

The head of the FBI, Kash Patel, apparently no longer trusts American limousines. The director of the Federal Police has switched from Chevrolet to the German manufacturer, US media report. The MS Now portal wrote that one reason is that the BMW X5 special models are “more inconspicuous”.

Until now, Chevrolet Suburbans have been the official vehicles of the FBI directors. According to a report by Forbes, BMW vehicles have already been used to transport diplomats and State Department employees in the past.

The new vehicle is a BMW X5 Protection VR6. It is a special armored version of the BMW X5 that was developed specifically for people with increased security needs. The vehicle offers certified ballistic protection, which protects against, among other things, fire from assault rifles and explosions from hand grenades. The armor is unobtrusively integrated into the body structure, so that the vehicle looks largely like a series SUV on the outside.

The BMW X5 Protection VR6 is powered by a V8 engine with all-wheel drive. Safety equipment includes reinforced windows, a self-sealing fuel tank, special tires that can still be used even if you get a flat tire, and optional extras such as an intercom or an emergency exit system.

An FBI spokesman, Ben Williamson, defended the decision. The Munich vehicles are more cost-effective than other models that could have been purchased. But he didn’t specify how big the savings were. According to MS Now, the Chevrolet is said to be almost twice as expensive as the German car. However, he did not give exact numbers.

The FBI director has also lobbied the agency to purchase a new private plane. The application was ultimately rejected because it would have cost between $90 and $115 million.

Patel has dismissed criticism of his use of private planes as “nonsense” and “outright lies”. In a podcast in December, he claimed that he even saved money for the government compared to his predecessors by using the FBI’s jet from government airfields instead of private airports. He also severely restricted his private travel so as not to waste FBI resources. Among other things, Patel is said to have flown to Texas for a performance by his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins and with friends.

Donald Trump introduced an “America First” policy during the election campaign. He relies on American products. Patel adheres to this at least indirectly, because there is production for the BMW X5 at the Spartanburg plant in the US state of South Carolina. However, the competence department for the special model is located in Dingolfing, Bavaria. From there the converted vehicles are then shipped again.