Škoda cars are not only popular with the Czech police, they also serve in many other countries – and not just European ones.
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The Škoda carmaker itself has recently boasted of an overview of countries in which police officers use cars from the Mladá Boleslav manufacturer.
Let’s start at home: did you know that since 1993, Škoda has handed over over twenty thousand cars to the Czech police?
At present, 865 third-generation police Octavias drive on Czech roads, whose special equipment, in addition to classic lighthouses, stickers and other elements, also includes massive tubular frames. These were created as a tool to protect the crew of a police car during car chases. They especially help with the so-called PIT (pursuit intervention technique) maneuver. The frame is mounted on a reinforced front bumper, has a black powder coating and weighs 19.8 kilograms. Thanks to the Octavia frame, it pushes or stops a car with a maximum weight of one ton and a height of at least sixty centimeters.
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Recently, the Czech police acquired Škoda Kodiaq cars, which are powered by a 2.0 TSI petrol engine with an output of 140 kW in combination with a seven-speed DSG transmission and all-wheel drive. They are complemented by Superb station wagons with Ambition equipment. They have a 2.0 TSI engine with an output of 206 kW, a DSG transmission, all-wheel drive and an adaptive chassis. Their maximum speed is 250 km / h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 5.8 seconds.
In addition to the usual police equipment, such as beacons and radios, they are equipped with a camera system for reading the registration plates on the front and rear of moving vehicles. This will allow, for example, an immediate control of the payment of the toll. In the luggage compartment, the car carries a special development that will also serve as a mobile office.
And what about abroad? Let’s take it alphabetically:
Armenia
The police force of the capital Yerevan has purchased 150 Octavia this year, and this will be the first deployment of Škoda cars as patrol cars in the “first line”. The cars will receive stronger batteries, LED beacons, 360-degree searchlights and other special equipment.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The police in Sarajevo bought the first ten Octavia in 2018, followed a year later by another 100 for the republican corps.
Bulgaria
The Bulgarian police operate a total of 344 Rapids, whose special equipment is a more capacitive battery and a more powerful alternator – but this is a standard factory offer, not a tailor-made solution.
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Finland
Both civil and fully marked Škoda cars have been used in the land of thousands of lakes for several years. In the “sharp” deployment drive about 180 cars, another 32 civilian cars without police equipment serve as regular business. Octavia and Superby run in Finland, which the local police force has radar, cameras, special radio stations and, of course, beacons and stickers modified by domestic companies.
France
In the services of the French police, we find Fabia, Karoq, Kodiaq, Octavia and Scala – in the last three years, the carmaker has supplied almost seventeen hundred of them.
Italy
Several hundred Octavia and Superbs with police stickers also serve on the Apennine Peninsula. Since 2012, the Italians have bought eleven hundred. Interesting equipment includes a submachine gun box between the front and rear seats, an organizer for special equipment in the trunk or advanced communication and GPS technology.
Israel
In the service of Israeli police officers, several hundred Octavia and Superbs have rolled over the past five years as regular patrol and unmarked cars.
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Lithuania
Lithuanian police officers have been driving Škoda cars since 2008. They use two hundred Octavias and Superbs with traditional police equipment, including grilles and the modified interior of the rear of the cars. However, the Yeti model still serves in this country.
Latvia
In Latvia, the police use 52 Octavia and 37 Superbs. They serve exclusively as unmarked vehicles focusing on traffic control. The cars are equipped with special technology for the traffic police.
New Zealand
Skoda recently won a tender from the New Zealand police, so this year the police should receive 355 cars and in the next four years will take over 450 to 500 cars a year. These are the Superb Combi models with 206 and 162 kW engines and the Kodiaq 132 kW engines. New Zealanders are also considering the plug-in of the Superb iV hybrid.
Austria
The damage has been part of the equipment of the Austrian police forces since 2006. The Octavia Combi 4×4 and Kodiaq models with all-wheel drive also predominate in the fleet of about twelve hundred cars. The other Octavia and Superby serve as civilians. It is interesting that the police buy cars for three to four years – an important factor is that the police equipment is installed so that it can be easily removed without a trace after the lease.
Serbia
You can also meet over two and a half thousand Octavia or Scala cars equipped with sound and light signals or special radio stations on Serbian roads.
Spain
Since 2018, the Spanish police have received ten Octaves or Karoqs a year.
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Ukraine
Ukrainian police officers ride in Rapidy, Octavia, Superbech Kodaci. In the last three years, the police have taken over twelve hundred Škoda cars.
Great Britain
In 2020, Škoda delivered 491 cars to the local police and rescue services, including the Octavia, Superby, Kodiaq and also the electric Enyaq. Island police officers have an Octavia RS with an output of 180 kW for a fast ride. It is also worth mentioning the specially modified Kodiaq, whose luggage compartment has been converted into a mobile cage for the transport of four-legged members of the police force. Two separate boxes are air conditioned, the temperature can be regulated from the front of the car. If the dogs are in danger and it is not possible to open the rear of the car, they can safely leave the pens through a tilting glass window into the car cabin.
Source: Škoda Auto
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