The Czech police are modernising their fleet: Škoda Auto has begun delivering new service vehicles. In total, 352 Kodiaq models are to be handed over to the security forces by the end of the year.
At Škoda Auto’s test facility in Úhelnice near Mladá Boleslav in North Bohemia, the Czech police have taken delivery of the first 51 specially equipped Škoda Kodiaq vehicles. By the end of this year, a total of 352 vehicles will have been delivered. The ceremonial handover was attended by the Minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister Vít Rakušan, Police President Martin Vondrášek, and Škoda’s Head of Sales for the Czech market, Tomáš Duchoň.
The carmaker from Mladá Boleslav has been a dependable partner of the Czech security services for decades. Since 1993, Škoda Auto has supplied more than 23,000 vehicles of various models to the Ministry of the Interior and the police – both standard and specially adapted versions. The Škoda Kodiaq SUV has been part of the police fleet for over two years and has proved particularly effective in traffic and patrol operations.
New Vehicles Replace Older Octavia Models
By the end of the year, the Czech police are set to receive a total of 352 new Kodiaq models. They will replace older Škoda Octavia Combi 2.0 TSI 4×4 DSG models from 2019 and 2020, many of which have already clocked up to 350,000 kilometres. “Regular fleet renewal is essential for the police, as the vehicles are exposed to extreme strain during daily operations. The new, specially equipped Kodiaq models offer reliable support even in difficult terrain thanks to their all-wheel drive and off-road capability,” said Police President Martin Vondrášek.
Specially Designed for Police Operations
The service vehicles are based on the standard version of the new Kodiaq but have been extensively modified to meet the demanding requirements of police duty. Many of the improvements are based on experience gained with the first Kodiaq generation.
In addition to increased performance compared with its predecessor, the adaptive DCC+ chassis has been specifically tuned to handle the additional weight of police equipment, allowing particularly dynamic driving in Sport mode.
Visually, the police Kodiaq also differs significantly from the standard version: in addition to the typical police livery, it features a newly developed front protection bar that provides optimal impact protection while maintaining safety for occupants. The interior has been redesigned to allow both the transport of detained persons and use as a mobile command centre.
