Oh là là Peugeot: French Gendarmerie chases criminals in a hybrid

Stellantis reported that after the French Gendarmerie ordered conventionally powered models of the Peugeot 5008 in 2021, they are now opting for partially electrified models from the manufacturer. Now, 395 vehicles of the Peugeot 3008 with hybrid drive have been ordered.

Long History of Peugeot and the Gendarmerie

At the end of the 1940s, amidst the turmoil of the post-war period, the Gendarmerie Nationale rebuilt its fleet by confiscating vehicles from the resistance or utilizing the remnants of the army's fleet. The first models of the Peugeot 202, 302, and Peugeot 402, in limited numbers and mostly in black, belonged to the brigades. The now well-known blue of the Gendarmerie did not become the standard color until 1969/1970.

Peugeot Station Wagons First Choice for Service Vehicles

Starting in the 1950s, the Gendarmerie Nationale organized its equipment purchases and began ordering vehicles on a large scale. This marked the beginning of a long history with Peugeot, particularly with the brand's station wagons.

The Peugeot 203 station wagon was the first to be used by the Gendarmerie, especially in the newly created traffic police brigades in a France that was experiencing economic growth. Every decade brought more station wagons from the Lion brand to the Gendarmerie: Peugeot 403, 404, 204, 304, 305, 504, 505, and Peugeot 306. Then followed a new generation of vehicles with even more practical and spacious interiors. The Gendarmerie opted for the Peugeot Expert van.

The officers' service vehicles were usually the same models in sedan form – however, not in Gendarmerie blue, but in black or gray.

Special models for every mission

Since the Gendarmerie is responsible for ensuring the safety of the area in its entirety – inner cities, highways, mountains, country roads – and all its components – in France and in the overseas territories – the Gendarmerie had to adapt its fleet. They needed special and sometimes unusual models. The official vehicles of the officers were mostly the same models as sedans – and not in Gendarmerie blue, but in black or grey.

The Brigades Rapides d'Intervention, deployed on the French highways, received significantly more powerful models such as the Peugeot 405 T16 or the Peugeot 306 S16.

The Peugeot wagons of the Garde Républicaine, responsible for the safety of the Tour de France, are also known to many people. Less known were about a dozen Peugeot 806 minivans that were used in the 1990s to escort nuclear convoys.

The Gendarmerie Nationale has always had a fleet of off-road vehicles to be able to intervene in any, even the toughest, terrain. In the 1980s, the Gendarmerie oriented itself towards the French army and opted for the Peugeot P4, based on the Mercedes G-Class, which was mainly intended for the mobile Gendarmerie squads. In the overseas departments, the Peugeot 504 and Peugeot 505 4X4 wagons prepared by off-road specialists Dangel enabled the Gendarmes to drive on difficult terrain. Finally, in 2004, some rare specimens of the Peugeot 206 with all-wheel drive prepared by FAM were delivered to certain brigades.