Fiat Automóveis has just delivered 676 vehicles to the Polícia Militar (military police) in the state of São Paulo in Brazil with the mix of specially adapted Palio, Palio Weekend and Siena cars set to be used to fight crime in the populous state.

The handover of the large fleet of specialy converted Fiat vehicles to the Polícia Militar took place in the historic Vale do Anhangabaú right in the heart of the city of São Paulo. The Fiats will have busy working lives in the region which is the main economic and industrial powerhouse of Brazil, and which is the largest city in Latin America.

Polícia Militar do Estado de São Paulo (São Paulo State Military Police) is the largest division of the Polícia Militar in Brazil, with around 100,000 in the ranks. The Polícia Militar is one of several police bodies in the country and it is tasked with maintaining public order while other branches of the police are responsible for other tasks such as detective work or forensics. The Polícia Militar also has a paramilitary division for fighting crime in the most lawless neighbourhoods and is also responsible for highway patrols, internal police investigations, fire-fighting and counter-terrorism activities. The fleet of distinctly liveried Fiats will now be a common sight on the streets of the populous state as they help to ensure the security of the citizens of São Paulo, preserve public order, and are used in general day-to-day policing duties.

As well as roof mounted flashing lights and distinctive liveries, the mix of 676 Palio, Palio Weekend and Siena vehicles are all fitted with the 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder engine to ensure there is plenty of power available for when the police face emergency situations. The seats have all received tougher and more hard-wearing seat covering materials while the rear seating area of the Palio HLX versions have been transformed into an compartment to safely carry prisoners. The Siena HLXs which have been supplied to the Polícia Militar are fitted out with radio equipment and will be used as mobile command posts by comandantes dos batalhões (battalion commanders). The Fiat fleet has been prepared by Betim-headquartered Rontan Eletro Metalurgica Ltda, a global company that is involved in the manufacturing and converting of specialist vehicles for the police and other security forces and which is a partner company of Fiat Automóveis.