The town of Mandelieu-La Napoule has become the first in France to add Tesla vehicles to its police fleet, with four new Model 3 joining the force this week.
Last week photos emerged on social media showing a truck load of new Model 3s in France outfitted with police decals and equipment. The only detail missing was which police force had purchased them.
As it turns out, they were on their way to Mandelieu-La Napoule, a scenic coastal town in southeastern France, as confirmed by the city’s mayor, Sébastien Leroy.
In a post on X, Leroy announced Mandelieu-La Napoule as the first municipal police force in France to adopt Tesla vehicles. Leroy explained the police are expecting to see an 85% reduction in operating and maintenance costs compared to their traditional gas-powered police vehicles.
While the city’s choice to go electric is being celebrated, it came with a notable disappointment. Leroy said that domestic automakers declined to respond to the public tender, leaving Tesla as the clear choice for their police fleet, commending Tesla’s responsiveness to the town’s needs.
#Mandelieu, 1ère Police municipale de France équipée en @Tesla.
— Sebastien LEROY (@SebastienLeroy_) December 2, 2024
Optimisation opérationnelle en ville, économies d'énergie et d’entretien de 85%.
Dommage que les constructeurs français n'aient pas répondu à notre appel d’offres.
La sécurité, votre 1er droit et notre 1er devoir. pic.twitter.com/DbZtDV2HG4
Pierre Boutillon, Director of Public Security, explained further how they are expecting to see such massive savings. In a statement to numerana, Boutillion said their traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles cost the department €650 (C4958/US$682) monthly per vehicle in fuel. These ICE vehicles have also proven expensive to maintain under the heavy demands of round-the-clock urban patrols.
“We paid the equivalent of a new car in repairs last year due to wear on particulate filters and clutches,” Boutillon explained.
Additionally, the ecological benefits align with the city’s sustainability goals. The Model 3, which will be largely used for urban patrols, not only reduces emissions but also supports the integration of advanced technological tools for surveillance and field efficiency. With careful battery management, including slow recharging schedules, the police expect these vehicles to last longer than their ICE predecessors, which typically serve for about five years.
Mandelieu-La Napoule joins a growing list of global law enforcement agencies adopting Tesla vehicles. In the United States, the Fremont Police Department in California integrated a Tesla Model S into its fleet as part of a pilot program, reporting annual savings of $4,000 in fuel and maintenance. With the success, Fremont Police also added a Model Y.
Similarly, the Bargersville Police Department in Indiana has a large fleet of Tesla police cars, and has seen substantial savings after the switch to electric.
