In France, vehicles for police and gendarmerie intervention are selected after a long tender. From French manufacturers. The state strives to maintain a certain parity, so that our three general manufacturers (Renault, Peugeot, Citroën) are represented in their fleets. Thus, the last large-scale tender, which was accompanied by a major overhaul of the appearance of vehicles, satisfied almost everyone.

Peugeot has seen its 5008 being fitted out by police and gendarmerie services. Renault his Scénic in the national police. Citroën C5 Aircross in some gendarmerie departments. Not forgetting of course Alpine A110. It is equipped with rapid intervention teams (ERIs) of the gendarmerie ! In some cases, it happened that teams were equipped with foreign models (Ford C-Max and Focus, Skoda Octavia), but this phenomenon is quite rare.

An exception is the municipal police

However, in France, there is a police that does not act like everyone else: municipal! Indeed, unlike the national police (and gendarmerie), municipal police departments are not required to bid for national builders equip yourself with intervention vehicles. Until 2005, they were even free to choose the design they wanted to put on it. Reflective stripes, inscriptions, coats of arms, etc. Since then, everything has been regulated and standardized so that they can be recognized everywhere and by everyone.

This specificity, characteristic of the municipal police, gives rise to sometimes amazing models. Pickups, minivans, 4X4, etc. Thus, we can meet in our cities by chance Nissan Navara, Kia Niro, Suzuki Jimny, Hyundai Tucson or even Toyota Land Cruisers. Each municipality has the right to choose the type of vehicle that best suits it. Depending on the needs and the environment in which it will develop.

Welcome to Renault Austral

The energy transition is binding, we see that more and more fleets are being equipped electrified models. Of course, there are hybrids and plug-in hybrids. But also more and more 100% electric models. Peugeot e-2008 in Saint-Chef (38), Dacia Spring in Quissac (30), Renault Zoé in Val d’Isère (73). But also foreign models. as Skoda Enyaq in Saint Maurice (94) and very recently MG 4 in Omecourt (54).

Today, another French municipality announces that it is equipping itself with an electrified model: Montigny-le-Bretonneux, in Yvelines (78). The municipality of Ile-de-France has targeted the Renault Austral to equip the municipal police service. Two copies have already been received, with gasoline engines 1.2 TCe with a capacity of 130 horsepower, associated with a manual gearbox. As far as we know, this is the first time that the police have chosen a Renault crossover, both in France and in other countries (it is assembled in Spain).

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