According to parent company General Motors, the current version is based on its CT6 model and was first deployed in 2018 during Trump’s visit to New York. Priced at US$1.5 million, it weighs an estimated 6,800kg to 9,100kg and is mounted on a heavy-duty truck chassis measuring about 5.5m in length.
The body – reportedly made of steel, aluminium, ceramic and titanium – is designed to withstand bullets and bomb attacks. The windows are said to be fitted with 7.6cm multilayered bulletproof glass, while the body is up to 20.3cm thick.
The seven-seater limo is also reported to feature night-vision driving systems, tear gas cannons, smokescreens and electrified door handles. A sealed cabin with an independent oxygen supply to guard against chemical attacks carries the president’s blood type in a refrigerator in case of injury.
The vehicle’s capabilities include a “run-flat device” in each wheel, which ensures the car’s mobility even if tyres are damaged or destroyed. Inside, it is equipped with state-of-the-art communications systems, including internet access, a secure telephone network and facilities to send the nuclear codes.
Several foreign leaders have travelled in “the Beast” alongside the president, most recently Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last August. The Trump-Putin ride lasted about 10 minutes.
Chinese President Xi Jinping also uses a custom-built limousine made by luxury brand Hongqi, also known as Red Flag, the Chinese government’s preferred marque for official state vehicles.
While details about the Chinese presidential model remain scarce, it reportedly measures about 5.5m in length, is fully armoured and equipped with encrypted communication networks. Hongqi also produces China’s most expensive and exclusive domestically made car, with commercial versions priced at around US$1 million.
While the two presidential vehicles differ in design and origin, both are built to serve as rolling command centres with extensive security capabilities.
The rest of the American president’s motorcade is a tightly coordinated, armoured convoy managed by the US Secret Service and built for maximum security and administrative efficiency.
