The Tesla Model Y is joining the ranks of the French and international police, marking a major development in the electrification of law enforcement. This trend, which affects France as well as other countries, illustrates a profound transformation in the design of intervention vehicles. Although the announcements were made a year ago, vehicle deliveries are just starting to arrive and tend to intensify for 2025.
The police choose to equip themselves with Teslas
MaxiAvenue, a French specialist in vehicle development for law enforcement, unveiled a Tesla Model Y in 2023 adapted to the needs of municipal police. This version, presented during an event in Île-de-France, is offered at a price of €41,990 excluding tax, or approximately €50,000 including tax. The vehicle, although limited to the rear-wheel drive version, offers remarkable performance with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and a WLTP range of 455 kilometers.
It is clear that this modified Tesla Model Y model has been emulated by certain municipal police forces in France. In fact, the municipal police in Le Touquet recently tested the vehicle for 2 weeks, and delivery trucks have been spotted all over France. If the choice of vehicle model remains at the discretion of local elected officials, it is a safe bet that the National Police will also equip themselves with Teslas in the near future in the event of a successful trial.
An accelerating international trend
Internationally, the adoption of Teslas by law enforcement is gaining momentum. The city of South Pasadena in California has just become a pioneer by becoming the first in the world to have an all-electric police fleet made up of Teslas. This initiative includes 20 vehicles, including 10 Model Y for patrols and 10 Model 3 for administrative missions
The advantages are multiple: in addition to the environmental benefits, the Californian city expects a saving of around $4,000 per year per vehicle in energy costs. In France, this transition is part of the Mobility Orientation Law, which requires public entities to integrate electric vehicles when renewing their fleets.
Tesla font? 🚀🥰 pic.twitter.com/4ElVVoMAEA
— Powl (@powl_d) November 26, 2024
Teslas offer unique capabilities for law enforcement. In Oakland, police already use Tesla’s Sentry mode as an investigative tool, allowing them to collect video evidence during criminal investigations. This feature has notably helped solve several cases in California, transforming these vehicles into real silent witnesses to crime scenes.
Can we dream of one day seeing the Cybertruck in police colors?
