So European, Kiwi cops to drive Skoda after over 50 years of Holden, Ford loyalty

Monday, 29 March 2021

The first of the new Skoda police patrol vehicles is revealed in Wellington.

After more than 50 years of loyalty to Holden and Ford, police today unveiled their new patrol cars – the European Skoda.

Frontline police have been driving Holden vehicles since the late 1960s, with a brief dip into the Ford market in the 1970s and 1980s.

The switch to Skoda was announced in November 2020 after General Motors announced the ending of the Holden brand.

“I have been in a Holden right since I started,” said Commissioner of Police Andrew Coster.

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The two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive models of the Skoda Superb placed first and second out of the 27 vehicles evaluated by police.

The Czech vehicles were chosen for their performance, safety, useability and low-emission standards with the two-wheel-drive vehicle being 30 per cent more fuel efficient than the Holden Commodores.

Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming drives the first car through Wellington.

The cars also features a number of innovations including a perspex divider, which separates the driver and passenger areas, and a newly designed gun safe which allows quicker access for officers while syncing with keyless entry systems for greater security.

Holden ZB Patrol cars had previously copped flack from staff for limited headroom.

The choice of a station-wagon provided more room in the back and added to the comfort of officers and reduced risk “if someone is unco-operative”, Coster said.

The new vehicles also featured updated live tracking features, Sergeant Mark Moody said.

“The cars have been livened up. When the lights and siren are activated it will send a message to the systems so our comms staff van know where we are and what we are doing,” Moody said.

Skoda New Zealand general manager Rodney Gillard said more than 23,000 Skoda vehicles were in use in European police forces.

In New Zealand, more than 2000 Skoda patrol cars will be put into service over the next five years.

“Even though they were designed in Europe, we think they were made for New Zealand,” Gillard said.