Two vehicles added to the government fleet were part of a “long overdue refresh”.

A spokeswoman said the Crown Car and GP1 had been out of service for several years and the replacement vehicles made sure that the Government could appropriately fulfil official and national functions.

She said that the two new vehicles were budgeted for under the Ministry of Public Works and Environment.

TNN earlier reported that GP1, said to be a BMW car, was to be used by the Premier.

It said that a second vehicle, reportedly a limousine, was detailed specifically for official use by both the Governor — Andrew Murdoch at this time, and the Premier — a post held by David Burt.

The spokeswoman said the refresh of the fleet formed part of a standard asset management process across the Government and was consistent with fleet updates under way in other departments.

She added: “This includes the introduction of EV and other environmentally friendly vehicles.

“It's also important to note that the provision of official vehicles for the holders of the offices of the Governor and the Premier has been an established practice across successive administrations dating back several decades.

“These arrangements exist to support the execution of official duties and national responsibilities and are neither unprecedented nor exceptional.”

The Royal Gazette asked the Government what make and model the new vehicles were and what they cost but those questions were not answered in the spokeswoman’s response.

Figures in the Budget book showed a capital acquisitions estimate of $5.28 million for vehicles and equipment — a mixture of replacement and new — under the public works and environment ministry headquarters for 2026-27.

Another $482,000 was allocated for electric vehicles.

The revised estimates for 2025-26 were $5.18 million and $150,000, respectively.

In 2024, Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, who was then the public works minister, announced the purchase of 13 new electric vehicles to replace the ministerial fleet.

He said that the Hyundai Kona cars were bought at a total cost of almost $580,000.

Colonel Burch highlighted at the time that the Government maintained more than 500 vehicles consisting of tractors, motorcycles, concrete mixers and 119 cars, among others.

He added: “The average age of a government vehicle is ten-plus years and, as any mechanic would tell you, the older a car gets the harder and more expensive it is to maintain.”

Colonel Burch said it was anticipated that each new EV would save the Government about $55,000 per vehicle over its lifetime in maintenance and fuel costs.

It emerged in 2023 that two Kia Seltos, with a usual retail value of $46,000 each, were bought as replacement cars for the Premier and the Governor, who at the time was Rena Lalgie.

The Government said then that the cost of the cars would be $25,000 each once customs duty had been deducted from the price tag and that they were needed owing to the high maintenance costs for the previous cars.

Colonel Burch said then that a combined 44 years of service and $60,000 in repair bills had been clocked up on the Premier and Governor’s old vehicles.