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ANAHEIM, Calif. (April 12, 2024) – The Anaheim Police Department is leading Orange County with a pilot program to test the Tesla Model Y as a patrol vehicle to ensure the agency is equipped with enough police vehicles to properly serve the community.
National supply chain issues, aging patrol vehicles, and delivery delays of newly purchased patrol cars have caused a significant vehicle shortage in the Anaheim Police Department’s fleet. The department sought out a creative way to quickly acquire patrol cars. Tesla presented a unique opportunity to procure six (6) Model Y’s from available inventory and upfit them for patrol duty through their associated vendor, UP.FIT, a division of Unplugged Performance.
The Tesla Model Y was selected for its advanced features, including rapid acceleration, ample storage capacity, affordability, and low maintenance requirements, all of which are integral to police operations. With state-of-the-art technology and safety features, in addition to an expansive supercharging network throughout the city, these vehicles will enable officers to respond swiftly to incidents and effectively engage with the community.
Throughout the pilot program, APD officers will closely monitor the performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of the Model Y in various operational settings. Data collected during this period will help guide future decisions regarding the integration of electric vehicles into the department’s fleet.
“Due to our patrol vehicle shortage, we had to seek out alternative vehicle options, which led us to explore utilizing Teslas as police vehicles,” said Chief Rick Armendariz. “We are enhancing public safety for Anaheim by getting patrol vehicles into service faster.”
Members of the media are invited to an APD Tesla media preview day on Monday, April 15, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Grand Plaza at the Anaheim Convention Center, located at 800 W. Katella Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92802.
For more information related to the APD Tesla program, please contact Sergeant Jacob Gallacher at 714-357-7076.
