Israel Police Face Limited Options for SUV Fleet Replenishment
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
Israel's Ministry of Finance is requesting a 10 million shekel contract extension with KGM (formerly SsangYong) to maintain the police vehicle fleet due to delays in a new vehicle tender planned for 2027. The limited availability of suitable off-road SUVs with necessary support infrastructure, like the discontinued Mitsubishi Pajero, leaves the police reliant on Toyota Land Cruisers and KGM Rextons. The KGM Rexton, imported by Talcar, is the more common model in the police fleet, with 407 currently in operation.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel's Ministry of Finance seeks a 10 million shekel contract extension with KGM for police SUVs.
- A new tender for security force vehicles, planned for 2027, has been delayed.
- Limited off-road SUV options with necessary support infrastructure are available in Israel.
- The police fleet relies on Toyota Land Cruisers and KGM Rextons.
- The KGM Rexton is more prevalent, with 407 units in the police fleet.
- Talcar is the primary importer and service provider for the KGM Rexton in Israel.
Israel's Ministry of Finance is seeking to extend its contract with KGM, formerly SsangYong, for an additional 10 million shekels to continue updating the police vehicle fleet. The ministry distributed documents to suppliers on Monday, October 12, indicating that a new tender for security force vehicles, originally planned for 2027, has been delayed due to necessary revisions. Until the new tender is finalized, the finance ministry proposes continuing its arrangement with the current KGM SUV supplier.
The procurement process is complicated by a shrinking selection of vehicles capable of handling difficult off-road conditions. The issue is not a global shortage of suitable SUVs, but rather the specific requirements for police vehicles, which include accessible service centers, spare parts availability, and rapid repair turnaround. In Israel, the number of models with this necessary infrastructure is limited.
The Mitsubishi Pajero, previously used by security forces, is no longer available. This leaves the Toyota Land Cruiser and the KGM Rexton as the primary options for the state. While the police use both, the Rexton is more prevalent in their fleet. According to ministry documents, the police operate 407 KGM SUVs, valued at 112 million shekels when new. An additional 40 vehicles were procured by the State Procurement Administration.
The finance ministry justifies extending the contract by emphasizing the need to ensure the police's uninterrupted operations. Concurrently, the ministry is assessing supplier capabilities to identify importers who can supply the required models. Talcar, the KGM importer in Israel, appears to be the sole provider capable of importing and servicing the Rexton at a competitive price.
The state first acquired the Rexton, a model from the Korean company SsangYong, in 2022, replacing the Kia Sorento. SsangYong has since been acquired by the KG Group and rebranded as KGM, though the Rexton model remains in production and is used by various Israeli security structures, not just the police.
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