Chinese cars now being used by NSW Police

Chery Australia has announced a partnership with the New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) that will see two of its SUVs loaned to police for crime prevention activities.

The two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles – a Chery Tiggo 7 and Chery Tiggo 9 – will be used by the Burwood Crime Prevention Unit for “youth outreach, crime prevention initiatives and community engagement” across suburbs from Earlwood to Rhodes, according to the company.

“Chery is dedicated to helping the local community and is honoured to assist with public education through supporting the Burwood Police," said Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris.

“These selfless men and women work tirelessly to keep our streets safe, and providing two support vehicles is the least we can do to say thank you."

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NSW Police says the partnership will support community-focused policing in the Burwood area.

“Strong community partnerships are essential to effective policing. Working with Chery allows us to expand our engagement efforts and reach more people across Burwood Police Area Command in meaningful ways," said Superintendent Christine McDonald, Commander, Burwood Police Area Command.

“Policing one of the most culturally diverse communities in Australia, this collaboration supports our ongoing focus on safety, inclusion, and genuine connection with the community we serve."

The Burwood local government area has a sizeable population of people of Chinese ancestry. In the 2021 ABS Census, 32.8 per cent of residents reported having Chinese ancestry.

Both the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 9 feature Chery Super Hybrid (CSH) technology, claiming “up to 1200km” of driving range on a single charge and tank of fuel. 

The company says the Tiggo 7 uses a single electric motor and a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, while the Tiggo 9 adds two additional electric motors for a combined output of 315kW/580Nm. 

NSW isn’t the only Australian jurisdiction to put Chinese-branded vehicles into service, particularly for community-facing roles.

In QLD, the Queensland Police Service previously added a total of 45 MG HS Plus EV plug-in hybrid SUVs to its fleet for use by its Police Liaison Officers.

NSW Police has also previously been linked with LDV (a Chinese-owned brand) vehicles, with earlier reports noting the NSW Police received an LDV G10 people mover as part of a community engagement arrangement. 

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