Lower Saxony takes action: 200 new Audi patrol cars for the police!

Lower Saxony takes action: 200 new Audi patrol cars for the police!

Something is happening in Lower Saxony: the state's police force is being upgraded. Instead of the typical VW models, they are now relying on the Bavarian brand Audi. Around 200 new patrol cars are to be purchased, specifically 208 electric vehicles of the Audi A6 Avant e-tron model. This decision came as a surprise, as Volkswagen also offers an electric station wagon, the ID.7, which is produced in Emden. But the Lower Saxony state government decided in favor of Audi because they could not get a competitive offer from VW. The total volume of the order is around 26.4 million euros, and the vehicles are to be delivered gradually until next year, as NDR reports.

The price per police car is around 65,700 euros, which already includes the special equipment. The conversion of the vehicles for operational purposes is carried out by a Bavarian equipment company, which also supports the principles of regional value creation. At first glance, one might think that Lower Saxony, as a shareholder in the VW Group, would choose the local brand. Instead, one realizes that the decision in favor of Audi is also a clear sign.

Police as a figurehead and in the spirit of e-mobility

The new police vehicles will not only be used as vehicles, but will also be perceived as a “visible figurehead of the country”. It shows the step towards a more electric future, an area that IG Metall sees as central to the automotive industry. In this context, IG Metall expresses incomprehension about the decision, as its public statement calls for support for domestic automobile production. The economic and structural problems in the industry are currently putting a strain on employees, as Manager-Magazin also states.

Competition between automakers is becoming increasingly fierce, and sales in Europe for both combustion and electrified vehicles have fallen short of 2019's record levels. As new players such as Tesla and numerous Chinese manufacturers enter the market, German car manufacturers are under pressure. IG Metall is therefore demanding that politicians set the course for the future of automotive locations and create a new funding package for electromobility to support the industry. It goes on to say that costs can only be reduced and investments amortized by increasing the number of electric cars.

The challenges of the industry

The situation is made even more difficult by high energy prices and the complexity of the bureaucracy in Germany. Car manufacturers complain that they not only have to contend with technological challenges when it comes to electromobility, but also with high costs. That is why IG Metall supports the call for a local content strategy for Germany and the EU in order to strengthen domestic locations and secure jobs. An attractive environment for investments in e-mobility is crucial, as IG Metall emphasizes.

The future of the German automotive industry lies in the balance between the need to remain innovative and the challenge of securing domestic locations. It remains to be seen whether the decision for Audi instead of VW was a positive sign or a strategic mistake. One thing is certain: the police in Lower Saxony will soon have a new, electrifying presence on the streets.