Dubai's police force, renowned for its supercar patrol fleet, is procuring a Chinese-brand plug-in hybrid SUV instead of another exotic, Taiwan's United Daily News reported.

The force has long run Lamborghinis and Bugattis as showpiece patrol cars for tourism publicity, while everyday policing relies on practical vehicles — a two-track fleet.

The purchase fits the electrification of front-line fleets. Where charging infrastructure is incomplete, a PHEV that can run on either fuel or charge is seen as more workable than a pure EV.

Chinese new-energy carmakers have pushed into the Middle East on price-to-spec strength, and sales to governments and public agencies are prized as credibility-building contracts.

The city of supercars choosing a Chinese SUV for police duty, observers say, captures in one scene how far Chinese cars have come.