The Popemobile may not be as famous as the Batmobile, but it’s up there. And for the first time, the newest version of the vehicle that Pope Francis will take to his public appearances is fully electric and without emissions. Representatives of Mercedes-Benz handed over the keys to the pontiff at the Vatican on Wednesday, although the pope himself will ride, not drive himself, in the electric vehicle.
“With this Papamóbil, we are also sending a clarion call to electromobility and decarbonisation,” said Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz.
This vehicle, based on the new electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class, is one-of-a-kind, made expressly for the needs of the pope, who must travel slowly and be seen by admirers. It has been delivered in time for the 2025 Jubilee, which takes place every 25 years. The Jubilee Year begins on December 26 and runs until January 6, 2026, and is expected to attract millions.
A Mercedes-Benz representative hands Pope Francis the keys to the new fully electric Popemobile.
The new Popemobile’s electric drivetrain was adapted for slow travel, Mercedes-Benz said in a press release. His seat was replaced by a unique, centrally located, height-adjustable seat that swivels so the pope can address the audience from different angles. The papal seat is heated and has a grab bar so the pope can stand to address the crowd. Two individual seats were added behind the main seat for passengers.
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The roof was removed at the car’s B-pillar, and a separate rigid curtain provides protection from the elements. Like previous Popemobiles, the vehicle is painted in classic pearl white.
according to Yahoo UKThe Vatican declined to comment on the new vehicle’s security features, Popemobiles noted bulletproof glass and reinforced features since the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II in 1981.
Mercedes has been making papal vehicles since it created a Nürburg 460 Pullman Sedan for Pope Pius XI in 1930.
A popular meme about the nickname of the vehicle cites the Wikipedia article on the Popemobile. It says: “In 2002, John Paul II asked the media to stop referring to the car as the ‘Popemobile’, saying the term was ‘undignified’.” The joke is that the Wikipedia article immediately proceeds to ignore this request.
