Today, the new police cars were presented. After a tender process, the Ford Kuga Full Hybrid and the BMW X1 were chosen as the basic vehicles.
Crossover SUVs
‘The Ford Kuga and BMW X1 are Crossover SUVs,’ says Peter Brouwer from the Police Service Center. ‘They provide ample room for passengers and can easily navigate over bumps. Both models feature a new roof set with bright blue lights and are fully armored.’
Key features include:
- high entry and good visibility;
- spacious trunk with organized layout;
- visible stop signs behind the sun visor;
- light alloy wheels for better brake cooling;
- gasoline engines instead of diesel;
- the Ford Kuga is quiet, which is useful for surveillance.
Flexibility
The choice of Ford and BMW was made due to changes in the automotive market, Brouwer explains. ‘Due to long delivery times from shortages, we signed a contract with two suppliers for more flexibility.’
Tested in Operations
The vehicles have been tested over the past few months. ‘Basic teams have tried the Ford Kuga and BMW X1 in practice for four months, providing feedback for improvements,’ says Brouwer.
Gradual Implementation
The new vehicles will be gradually added to the fleet. ‘When a vehicle needs to be replaced or a police unit expands after January 1, 2025, the Ford Kuga or BMW X1 will be delivered,’ Brouwer states.
From 2026, Electric Emergency Vehicles as Well
A tender for an electric police vehicle is underway. The Skoda Enyac has been provisionally chosen. This contributes to the polices sustainability goals. The expectation is that the first electric vehicles will be on the road starting the fourth quarter of 2025.
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