Fleet sales are an important part of U.S. automakers’ bottom lines, and none have more cachet or higher visibility than a contract with a law enforcement agency.
In addition to producing a reliable source of revenue, being chosen by a high-profile police department is a badge of honor. Putting officers in their cars gives Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge an advertising boost.
“This is absolutely a good marketing opportunity for us,” said Jonathan Honeycutt, marketing manager for Ford’s police vehicles. “This is a division we want to be in.”
• Ford sold law enforcement agencies about 20,000 units of its Interceptor Utility, which is based on its popular Explorer sport utility vehicle, and 10,000 police-issue Taurus full-size sedans in 2014, Honeycutt said.
Bick Pratt, head of government fleet sales for Dodge, credits the law enforcement accounts with raising awareness of its muscular cars.
“You hate to see a Charger Pursuit grille in your rearview mirror,” he said. “But we think there’s a lot of carry-over in terms of the macho appeal of the vehicle.”
• The Dodge Charger is the second-most-popular sedan that parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles sells. Ford’s Explorer is one of the most popular SUVs on the market.
Indeed, in early 2013, according to published reports, the Los Angeles Police Department ordered 100 of the Chargers, 50 Interceptors, and 38 Ford sedans, to replace vehicles aging out of its massive fleet.
The Interceptor Utility is effectively a beefed up Ford Explorer, while the Dodge Charger Pursuit is based on the refreshed 2015 Charger that is rolling into dealerships.
On the road, both police-issue models handle and accelerate eagerly, partly the result of upgrades that fortify them for police duties.
Both the Interceptor and the Charger Pursuit are equipped with radiator and engine and transmission oil coolers designed to withstand long high-speed chases. The heavy-duty brakes are built to withstand high heat. The suspension systems are reinforced and stiffened for better handling.
What is that CHP vehicle in the rear view mirror?
In addition to mechanical upgrades, the Dodge and the Ford both carry a considerable amount of specialized gear, which drives the total cost of the police vehicles to about double their manufacturers’ sticker prices.
The typical CHP cruiser, Mills said, costs just over $40,000, which buys a skid plate, a “push bumper” on the front of the vehicle, a touch-screen onboard computer system, antennas, storage for weapons, and other police prerequisites.
The system adds 250 pounds to the total weight of the vehicle. That’s one reason police agencies have abandoned the popular Ford Crown Victoria. Ford discontinued the civilian version in 2011, and now the iconic V-8 cruiser is gradually being phased out of law enforcement fleets because it is not capable of carrying the additional weight.
Not everything on every vehicle is new. Items like the light bars are recycled from previous vehicles, as they are decommissioned from the fleet and sold. Some of the CHP’s sirens have been around since the 1970s, Mills said.
“In a world where everything changes every day, police officers absolutely look for things to stay the same,” he said. “It’s hard to say goodbye to an old friend.”
To see the original article go to The LA Times.
