Can police officers afford to spend $150,000 on a new service vehicle? That’s the question being debated in Irvine, California, as law enforcement just got a brand new Tesla Cybertruck.
The police department in Irvine, a large college town south of Los Angeles, recently got a flashy new vehicle. A $150,000 Tesla Cybertruck has joined the ranks of the force. A purchase that has sparked controversy in the Californian city. The police department is accused of wasteful spending on taxpayers. It seems that not everyone can do what the Dubai police have done.
$150,000 for this transformed Cybertruck
According to our colleagues at Forbesthe Irvine Police Department reportedly paid $99,990 for a Cyberbeast model and another $20,000 for the Foundation Series trim. The city then added $30,000 to convert it into a police vehicle. To make matters worse, the truck looks like a rolling advertisement. It’s been branded with the colors of the UP.FIT program, the company behind the vehicle’s transformation.
When the project was presented in July 2024, it had already drawn strong criticism. Irvine residents had spoken out to express their discontent. One taxpayer had said he would prefer that “ the money of [ses] taxes are not wasted on useless things ” Another one that he “ There is no need for an expensive Cybertruck when the Ford Explorer could do the same thing for less. “.
Other electric models could have been preferred
But there is more surprising. Indeed, Rivian, a direct competitor of Tesla in the United States, has its offices in Irvine. The purchase of this Cybertruck is therefore a kind of ” slap » sent in the face of the American manufacturer. Especially since a Rivian R1T would have cost (much) less. The brand’s electric pickup is offered from $69,900.
The Irvine police could have also chosen the Ford F-150 Lightning, the Silverado EV, or the GMC Hummer EV. All models that cost less than the Cybertruck, and that have similar performance. But the ” cool ” is priceless and Irvine probably prioritized this aspect when purchasing it. A decision that will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of the city’s residents.
