PDRM evaluating Peugeot 408

The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) department is evaluating the Peugeot 408, which could become part of its patrol fleet. Two units of the French sedan were recently handed over to the PDRM by Stellantis Malaysia together with Public Star, its authorised dealer in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

The two cars will be used by police personnel over a 3-month period to assess the 408’s capabilities in real-world operations.

It’s been a while since the PDRM has had European cars as patrol cars, although there are some Volvos in certain units. After a long period of using Protons and Peroduas (with the exception of Volvo stationwagons for highway patrols), the PDRM began to use Japanese models such as the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and currently has a number of Honda Civics in its fleet.

Of course, the PDRM and other government agencies still support the two national brands and have various of their models for different purposes.

Support for local industry
With the exception of the Lancer Evo, the PDRM has used locally-assembled models for its patrol cars, and the 408 is also assembled in Malaysia. It is assembled at the Stellantis plant in Kedah alongside the 2008, 3008 and 5008.

This won’t be the first time that a government agency is using Peugeots (or considering them at this point). Back in the 1990s, the Malaysian Customs also had the Citroen BX as well as a small number of Peugeot 405s used more for undercover operations.

Japanese police once used the Mazda Cosmo Sport