Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk stands in front of a Cybertruck after its “armored glass” windows were smashed during an illustration.
AFP via Getty Images
A California police department that was one in every of the primary law enforcement agencies to buy a Tesla Cybertruck spent greater than $150,000 on the vehicle after spending one other $20,000 on customizations to the automotive, in response to public records obtained by Forbes.
In July, Irvine Police announced the acquisition of the Cybertruck on X, later tell Los Angeles Times that it was “fun to reach out to the public and capture the attention and imagination of the community.”
Calculations show that the department opted for the costliest Cyberbeast model, which mainly boasts more horsepower and range than the regular Cybertruck. In addition to the Retail price: $99,990The Irvine police paid a further $20,000 for the “Foundation Series” package – an upgrade that allowed buyers to receive their vehicles earlier, with “Premium accessories” similar to laser-engraved cabin graphics, a sunshade on the glass roof, “fully autonomous driving (monitored)” and an attachable bottle opener. Sergeant Karie Davies said Forbes The Foundation series was the one brand available at the moment.
When Irvine Police purchased the Cybertruck in May, Tesla’s vehicle had already been recalled 4 times.
The Cybertruck won’t be used for patrols, Davies said, but will likely be a part of the department’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) unit. “That’s something we will highlight at our events. [where] Kids can come and take pictures.” According to Davies, the truck was paid for from town’s “fleet fund account.”
When Irvine Police purchased the Cybertruck in May, Tesla’s vehicle had already been recalled 4 times. Reviews from other buyers revealed that the model, which Davies described as a “cool showpiece”, had various defects, including a faulty accelerator pedal, a trim strip that was coming loose and in peril of flying off, and windshield wipers that now not worked, increasing the chance of accidents.
You will receive a separate invoice from Forbes revealed that the department also paid $20,000 to Unplugged Performance, a Tesla tuning company, to put in unspecified “police equipment” similar to automotive lights, radios and exterior graphics, Davies clarified. The company offers a service called “UP.FIT” that in response to ABC 7 Newscan enable “special tool and weapon storage, prisoner compartments and dog pens” and likewise offers Internet access via SpaceX’s Starlink.
Text messages between a graphic designer on the Irvine Police Department and James Hedland of Unplugged Performance — who, in response to his LinkedIn profile, created the UP.FIT program for the police department — show them coordinating a custom automotive wrap for the Cybertruck in July. In one message, Hedland shared a link to Photos of a Cybertruck that the shop was designed to seem like a P-51 Mustang bomber plane. Hedland didn’t reply to a request for comment.
Irvine will not be the one police department considering adding Cybertrucks to its fleet. In January, the official X-Account of the Rosenberg, Texas, Police Department was tweeted to Tesla CEO Elon Musk and asked: “What do you think @elonmusk… will the #Cybertruck make a good police vehicle?” Musk responded with the 100% emoji. Police in Dubai added Cybertrucks into their “luxury patrol fleet for tourists” in June. In the identical month, the Anaheim Police Department began a pilot program that utilized a fleet of Tesla Model Y patrol cars that were also “converted” by Unplugged Performance.
In January, California State Senator Dave Min said announced $990,000 in state funds for the Irvine Police Department to take a position in electric vehicles, chargers and other equipment needed to transition to a zero-emissions fleet. Min’s office didn’t reply to a request for comment by press time.
The Irvine Police Department has already has two tank-like armored vehicles intended to be used “in high-risk incidents, special events and public outreach.” In 2023, the City of Irvine will explained that it was the “safest city of its size in terms of violent crime” for the 18th yr in a row.
The agency said it currently has no plans to buy one other Cybertruck. “What did you think of the Cybertruck? I hated it until I rode in it!” wrote one police officer in a text message to an acquaintance that we’ve got seen. Forbes“Absurd,” the opposite person replied.
