Volkswagen to supply Vatican with EVs

Volkswagen has struck a deal to deliver 40 electric cars to the Vatican City from 2024, helping the Papal State in its quest to achieve a climate-neutral vehicle fleet by 2030.

The deal will see the German car-maker supply the Volkswagen ID.3 hatch and ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs to the Vatican City State.

Senior VW executives personally delivered the first two vehicles – both Volkswagen ID.3 Pro Performance models – to Pope Francis.

“The electrification of fleets is becoming increasingly important across the globe,” said Imelda Labbe, sales and marketing boss for Volkswagen passenger vehicles.

“The fact that Vatican employees will now also be among our ID drivers in the future is a great target and honour for our brand and underscores the attractiveness of our all-electric ID models.”

There’s no word if Pope Francis himself will get the keys to a new Volkswagen ID model or if he’ll still favour being shuttled around in his old 2008 Ford Focus that he owned long before he became head of the Catholic Church in 2013.

It’s also been reported that when he drives himself it’s behind the wheel of a 1984 Renault 4, which was given to him by an Italian priest and has more than 300,000km on the clock.

Pope Francis is believed to be a big fan of the R4 as he had one when he lived in Argentina.

Back in 2017, the Pope was presented with a free Lamborghini Huracan that he promptly signed, blessed and auctioned off for charity, raising $1.13 million at the time.

Keeping with the environmental theme, back in 2020 Toyota created a popemobile out of its hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai that is now used for official engagements.

Prior to that the official popemobile was a modified bulletproof Mercedes-Benz M-Class, delivered in 2013.

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