page_title: Official state car
section_title: United States of America
hierarchical_section_title: Official state car / Countries / United States of America
caption_attribution_description: English: Cadillac Presidential Limousine (2018)‎ in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York, 25 September 2018
context_page_description: An official state car is a vehicle used by a government to transport its head of state or head of government in an official capacity, which may also be used occasionally to transport other members of the government or visiting dignitaries from other countries. A few countries bring their own official state car for state visits to other countries, for instance, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom and South Korea. It also may serve as an automotive symbol of the head of state and their country. Part of the criteria for an official state car is to have adequate security, capability and stateliness for its duty. A limousine, executive car, or sport utility vehicle is usually selected.
  Due to the high security risk of the passengers, these vehicles are often heavily secured and protected. Vehicles may be armoured by the manufacturer or an after-market specialist. When carrying an important passenger, state vehicles may be surrounded by a motorcade consisting of police or military personnel.
context_section_description: The president of the United States travels in a heavily armored, custom-built limousine, which is often referred to as Limo One, Cadillac One, or its less formal nickname of "the Beast." The vehicle is based on a GMC Topkick platform, and has the outward appearance of an enlarged Cadillac DTS limousine, with styling elements from other vehicles in the Cadillac lineup.
  The vehicle features bulletproof windows, state-of-the-art communication and protection systems, a stowable desk, and a gas-proof chamber for defense against gas attacks. It was retired in 2018 for a new presidential limo, described as an "evolutionary update" of the vehicle used from 2009–17 with a current Cadillac front fascia.
  On 24 May 2011, an earlier "Beast" failed to clear the driveway of the U.S. Embassy compound in Dublin, Ireland. Though President Barack Obama was the escorted official, he was in the second limo as the first noisily struck the pavement hump under the Embassy gate. The president also travel in a heavily armored 2007–2014 model Chevrolet Suburban and a spare.
  Unlike most other heads of state, with the occasional exception of the British monarch and the president of Russia, the U.S. president is accompanied on all foreign and domestic trips by a full motorcade of U.S. government vehicles, including several presidential limousines, escort vehicles and a military ambulance, all of which are transported by the United States Air Force using C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. For security reasons, the president always travels in "the Beast" on trips abroad. The U.S. vehicles are typically complemented with coaches, police vehicles, ambulances and limousines provided by local authorities. The United States Secret Service also has a fleet of heavily armored buses called Ground Force One     for the president and presidential nominees. 
  Like the president, the U.S. vice president is accompanied by a full U.S. motorcade during domestic and foreign trips.
  Members of Congress have an allowance of $1,000 per month in which the government may cover the cost of a lease, not including mobile offices. The preferred car for members of Congress was the Lincoln Town Car until its discontinuation. Executive cars are the most common type of car for congressmen. The two most popular cars for congressmen are the Town Car's successors: the MKS and the MKT.
  Most high ranking federal-level officials travel in SUVs usually armored Chevrolet Suburbans or Chevrolet Tahoe. State governors and large city mayors mostly travel in SUVs with their state and city police security details.  
  Visiting head of states and foreign dignitaries are provided armored vehicles and protection by the United States Secret Service and Diplomatic Security Service in US soil. The annual United Nations General Assembly session in New York is one such event where hundreds of motorcades are managed with the assistance of NYPD.
  U.S. ambassadors travel in their United States Department of State pool of armored vehicle that can range from Cadillac DTS, Chevorlet Suburban, Toyota Land Cruiser and BMW along with host security vehicles.
caption: A current-model US presidential state car in front of the headquarters of the United Nations (September 2018)
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