France: Gendarmerie faces a problem that could worsen as early as 2028

In a budget opinion on funding for the National Gendarmerie in 2027, lawmaker Anne-Laure Blin warns of a possible vehicle-fleet “obsolescence cliff” from 2028. Of its 33,600 light vehicles, 8,526 already exceed retirement criteria, and the fleet’s average age is 8.2 years, while about 3,750 vehicles need to be replaced annually. After 730 purchases in 2024, just 29 are planned for 2026, with no additional purchases announced for 2027; deliveries from previous orders are due to end in 2026. The fleet supports the Gendarmerie’s work across France, including public safety, crime-fighting, emergency response and judicial investigations.