Carbon Motors plans to sell its own police cars
Automotive News | October 1, 2008 - 11:26 am EST
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Police car manufacturer Carbon Motors plans to market its new car directly to law enforcement agencies — skipping the need for a dealership network.
Additionally, the company plans to repurchase the car when an agency takes the vehicle out of service.
Law enforcement agencies “asked that we take these vehicles back at the end of their life and decommission them, recycle them,” said William Santana Li, CEO of Carbon Motors Corp. “Today the criminal element is buying these cars because they still look like police cars” after they are taken out of service.
Carbon’s police car is a response to law enforcement agencies wanting a sedan built to their needs, and security issues after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
This week, the company unveiled a prototype rear-drive sedan to several law enforcement agencies in the Detroit area.
On Oct. 14, the Atlanta company will begin a nationwide tour in Chicago, showing the sedan to law enforcement agencies. The company also is looking for investors. Sales are expected to begin in 2012.
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Depending on economic conditions, the market has the potential annually for 75,000 police vehicle sales. Most sales now are of Ford’s Police Interceptor sedan, basically a souped-up Crown Victoria. The two other players are the Chevrolet Impala and the Dodge Charger.
Carbon Motors plans to build an assembly plant. Li said the company is in talks with six states that he did not identify. A decision on a site is expected next year.
“What we’re building is a light industrial assembly facility. We will not be putting up a stamping facility. There is no complicated body shop. There is no $300 million paint facility,” said Li.
“Basically, we are a trim and final assembly line.”
One of Carbon’s goals was to free up interior space. Many police cars have a laptop on the front passenger seat. In Carbon’s car, the computer’s keyboard and display are incorporated in the center stack of the instrument panel. Additionally, the computer system is designed for police officers with a range of computer skills, and incorporates backup controls.
“You typically have three different kinds of people” driving a police car, said Stacy Dean Stephens, sales development manager.
The business model for a purpose-built police car is similar to how fire department vehicles are developed and then sold directly to municipalities.
“If you look at public safety and public service, the firemen design the trucks. That is what they want. You look at ambulances, they are designed to be an ambulance,” said Lee Brown, a member of Carbon Motors’ advisory board.
Carbon Motors’ car will be sold to law enforcement agencies complete, with all equipment.
“Today, they buy the cars for $24,000, $26,000. Then they add up to $55,000 of aftermarket equipment” for computers, radios, light bars and other equipment, said Li.
The intent is to offer a better equipped police car for a lower price, said Brown.
