Official state car
Encyclopedia
An official state car is a car used by a government to transport its head of state
in an official capacity, which may also be used occasionally to transport other members of the government or visiting dignitaries from other countries. On a state visit
, the official state car might be transported for official use by the head of state upon their arrival. It also may serve as an automotive symbol of the head of state and their country. Part of the criteria for an official state car is to have adequate security, capability and stateliness for its duty. A limousine
, executive car
or sport utility vehicle
is usually selected.
Due to the high security risk for the passengers, these vehicles are often heavily secured and protected. Vehicles may be armored
by the manufacturer or an after-market specialist. When dignitaries are on board, state vehicles will usually be surrounded by a motorcade
consisting of police
and/or military
personnel. The vehicle's driver might also be from the law enforcement or military pool, with the driver of the United States Presidential State Car being an experienced agent from the Secret Service
.
Official state cars are often those of domestic manufacturers, allowing the head of state and the government of each respective country an opportunity to show confidence in their nation's automotive industry, and allow their automakers a chance to demonstrate their technology and skill by creating a special vehicle for the task. For example, the President of the United States
rides in the domestic Cadillac
, the Emperor of Japan
uses a Toyota, the British monarch uses a Bentley
and the Prime Minister of Italy
uses a Maserati
. Some countries alternate between vehicles made by each of their domestic manufacturers, and it is considered an honour for a car manufacturer to be selected to provide a state car for their respective country.
For countries without indigenous manufacturers, an official state car may be purchased from a suitable manufacturer in a nation with strong economic and diplomatic ties. Canada
exclusively uses state cars manufactured by the Detroit Three, many of which are made in Canadian factories, with the United States and American car manufacturers having a historically strong relationship with Canada. The Canadian government also holds shares in General Motors and Chrysler following their restructuring in the economic downturn of 2008.
uses a fleet of armored Audi A6
with standard registration plates.
travels in a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
limousine for ceremonial occasions, such as the State Opening of Parliament
. She more commonly uses Australian-built luxury cars when on official business. The official cars of the Governor-General fly the Flag of the Governor-General of Australia
and display St. Edward's Crown
instead of number plates. A similar arrangement is used for the Governors of the six states. When the Queen is in Australia, the Queen's Personal Australian Flag
is flown on the car in which she is travelling.
is usually seen in a white Holden Caprice tailed by multiple Ford Territory
models. It is also escorted by police vehicles from state and federal authorities. The Prime Minister's car bears the number plate "C1" (meaning "Commonwealth 1") and a centrally mounted Australian flag. The vehicles are heavily armoured and, unlike many overseas counterparts, the Prime Minister is frequently seen in the front passenger seat.
, BMW 7 Series
and Mercedes-Benz S-Class
models.
Ilham Aliyev
travels in an armored
Maybach 62
limousine.
Sometimes he uses a heavy armored, custom-built Mercedes-Benz W221 S600 Guard Pullman.
while the President also has use of a black Mercedes Benz W126 limousine that is used on state occasions, such as the Independence Day parade.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh uses either a white B7 Level armoured BMW 7-Series or a metallic silver, armoured Mercedes-Benz G-Class
SUV.
The Elite Special Security Force & Army Guards Regiment in the President/Prime Minister's motorcade use specially modified Lexus LX
s and Nissan Patrol
s equipped with advanced communication systems.
, drove a Toyota Land Cruiser
when travelling around the kingdom.
Present King of Bhutan, driven in Range Rover.
is driven in a BMW 7 Series
and a Toyota Land Cruiser
200 series. The president also is driven in Chevrolet Suburban
and he is escorted by 10
Toyota Sequoia
.
is a 1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith
, reserved exclusively for Independence Day commemorations, state visits and the presidential inauguration
.
The current official state car used by the president for regular transportation is a 2011-model armored version of the Ford Fusion Hybrid
. The car is also used as escort car for the presidential motorcade
. The Fusion was first used on 17 June 2008 when it replaced a 2004 Chevrolet Omega
.
The federal government's most important officials (President, Ministers, Magistrates, etc.) use yellow-green brass plates adorned with the Coat of Arms of Brazil
and their titles engraved on them (i.e. President of the Republic, President of the Senate, Defense Minister, Supreme Court President, etc.).
is driven in a Royal Service Gray Range Rover from Great Britain with a license plate symbolizing the Crown. He is usually driven by a Police Officer from the RVIPF (Royal Virgin Islands Police Force).
. On non-ceremonial occasions, the Sultan of Brunei personally drives a black Mercedes Benz W163 ML55 AMG, usually escorted by either a Secret Service BMW E39
540i or a BMW E61 545i, and a few Lexus LX470. On other occasions he drives a Maybach 62. Hassanal Bolkiah
, the current Sultan of Brunei, owns several thousand luxury and exotic cars and has one of the largest car collections in the world.
The member of the Royal Family are usually escorted by a Secret Service escort Volvo S80
V8 models, or Mitsubishi 380
.
The Cabinet Ministers of Brunei and visiting foreign dignitaries are driven in a black Mercedes Benz W221 S350L, while other senior ranking officials are driven in a black Mercedes Benz W211 E280.
are driven in a Lincoln Town Car
or a Lincoln MKS
bearing the flag of either office on the right hand fender. The sovereign's car bears a licence plate showing a gold St. Edward's Crown
on a red field. The Governor General's car bear a plate similar to the Flag of the Governor General of Canada
or standard auto plates of the province of Ontario with flags of the Governor General on the front hood. The governor general also has a Cadillac DTS stretch limousine at his/her disposal.The Governor General has also been seen in a 2010 Ford Flex.
Prior to the use of the state car, a 1911 Canadian state landau was used to transport the Queen from Rideau Hall to Parliament Hill.
The Prime Minister of Canada
is driven in a motorcade of three cars or more. The motorcade is adjusted for certain public events, as seen fit by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
. The prime minister usually rides in an armoured long-wheelbase Cadillac DTS
or Chevrolet Suburban
but has also been seen arriving at various events in a Toyota Sienna
minivan when travelling with members of his family. The Prime Minister is also eligible to use the governor general's Cadillac stretch limousine at various times. The Prime Minister's car bear standard Ontario car plates. The Prime Minister's motorcade is usually led by a Chrysler 300
, a Dodge Charger
, or a Mercury Grand Marquis
.
is driven in a beige Cadillac DeVille
sedan. Surmounted on the hood is the flag of the office, and instead of license plates the car has a crown on the front and back. It is likely that the car is armoured but this is not known for certain. Other senior officials and visiting VIPs utilize a fleet of armoured Ford Excursion
s.
XL Convertible, purchased in 1966. It is only used for official ceremonies celebrating national days on May 21, September 18 and September 19. It has a normal license plate (EL-2801).
For daily transport the president
was previously driven in a Lincoln Town Car
, but President Michelle Bachelet
used a 2008-model armoured Peugeot 607
saloon. Her motorcade was often seen driving 2006 Audi A4
and A6s
. Various 2007 Dodge Durangos also compose the presidential motorcade.
The newly elected president Sebastian Piñera
was arrived at the Presidential Palace in a brand new 2010 BMW 760Li F03 (armored). Various Audi Q7's, BMW 5 series, Audi's A6 were seen driving along with him.
In May, a Lexus LS 600h, was chosen by Piñera as the official presidential vehicle.
's official car is a Nissan Civilian
minibus. The same arrangement goes for the Premier.
Historically, Chinese leaders have used the Hongqi
for official occasions, such as the review of troops on National Day. During Hu Jintao
's review of troops on National Day in 2009, he was seen in a Hongqi HQE
Limousine.
n Presidential vehicles have usually been BMW
s. In 2006, the Presidential fleet included four armoured BMW 7-Series and several units of Toyota Land Cruiser 100, whose level of armour is a state secret. These BMW
s and Toyotas are equipped with GPS and runflat tires.
Limousine as its official state car.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently uses Kia Opirus
cars.
uses an armoured Mercedes-Benz S600..jpg)
seven-seater (LGLW 25 body no. 10181), commonly referred to as Store Krone (Great Crown)
. It was purchased by her father, Frederick IX of Denmark
as new. The coachbuilder and seller was Hooper & Co. (Coachbuilder)
Ltd, 54 St James Street, Piccadilly
, London SW1.
In addition she uses several lesser cars for more common occasions.
Noteworthy are Krone (Crown) 1, 2 and 5, which are all Daimler DS420
eight-seater limousines made in 1970, 1989 (purchased 1994 with 1500 km on the clock) and 1986. Also a new Bentley Arnage
, crown number 121. She is trying a new environmental car: the Lexus LS 600h, a hybrid.
The name Krone and number refers to the license plate used when carrying members of the Danish royal family
inside Denmark.
The Prime Minister of Denmark
is driven in an armored Mercedes-Benz S-Class
. The ministers in the Danish government drive different kinds of VW Phaeton and BMW 7 Series
. They are also seen in Volvo S80
s.
and Wartburg, both deemed unsuitable for state car usage. The leaders of the country used Russian-made cars and Swedish Volvo
models, while the Communist Party
General Secretary
, Erich Honecker
, used a fleet of stretched Citroen
CX
models.
is an armored Lincoln Town Car
purchased by president Lucio Gutierrez
in 2005. An armored Chevrolet Trooper
is also used.. The president travels in one of several armored Nissan Patrol scholastic level 7 for several Ford Explorers, Chevrolet D-Max. In the September 30, 2010 Nissan Patrol withstood high caliber ammunition in the midst of shooting the Police hospital in the city of Quito. Currently the Nissan Patrol fleet was changed by Toyota Land Cruiser 200.
used by Hosni Mubarak
until February 2011
was a black armored Mercedes-Benz
S-Class
. An earlier model of it helped save his life back in Ethiopia in 1995.
, Mauricio Funes
, uses an armored Mercedes-Benz W220
as its official state car. He also drives or is driven in a Lexus LX 570, a Hummer H3
, a Jeep Grand Cherokee
SRT-8, a Chevrolet Suburban
and a 200 Series Toyota Land Cruiser
. The President is generally escorted by six Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
uses an armoured Audi A8
4,2 TDI Quattro with the Coat of arms of Estonia as its license plate. The car is escorted by an Audi Q7
. The Estonian Prime Minister uses an Audi A8
registered in 2011.
uses an armoured Mercedes-Benz S600L
with the Coat of arms of Finland
as its "license plate". A similar car is used by the Speaker of the Parliament
, whereas the Prime Minister
's official car is a grey armoured Mercedes-Benz S450 CDI
.
Most Finnish cabinet
members use Audi A6
s, but there are also Volvo S80
s and Saab 9-5
s. The only armoured car besides the three most notable ones is the Foreign Minister's Audi A8
.
, Renault Vel Satis
and Peugeot 607
. These are traditionally provided by the manufacturers and different Presidents will have their own preference. For example, Nicolas Sarkozy
prefers Renault, while Jacques Chirac
was a Citroën fan, occasionally using his own long-wheelbase Citroën CX
model and the Presidential Citroën XM
.
For his inauguration
parade in 2007, Sarkozy used the one-off Peugeot 607
Paladine model, a stretched limousine with landaulette body, originally built as a concept car in 2000. The model was brought out of storage for the occasion and updated with a new grille and lights to bring it in line with the 2004 re-style of the mainstream model. It has since been returned to Peugeot and, as it effectively remains a concept car in its fit and finish, will not become part of the Élysée
fleet.
The most famous association between a President of France and a single model was that of Charles de Gaulle
with the Citroën DS
, as portrayed in the film, Day of the Jackal
. The President was saved in two assassination attempts by French Algeria supporters
by the car's unique ability to drive on three wheels and to keep running when more than one tyre is punctured.
For ceremonial occasions, the President also has access to two unique Citroën SM
Présidentielle landaulette models, created for President Georges Pompidou
by the coachbuilder Henri Chapron
. Based on the SM Opera, itself a special edition four-door convertible, these cars are still used for state occasions and military parades, when the open-top layout enables the President to stand in the back seat and survey the crowd. Built for an official visit by Queen Elizabeth II
in 1972, the cars have a standard mechanical layout with the addition of a special gear for low-speed cruising. One of the these cars was also used by President François Mitterrand
for the official opening of the Channel Tunnel
in 1994, when it accompanied the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
of Queen Elizabeth II
. Number plates on these cars are standard French ones, although specially created for the model (2 PR 75 and 3 PR 75, '75' denoting the Paris region). Both are still maintained in working order, but are now rarely seen in use.
An international museum of official state cars also exists in France.
Over the years, German presidents
, chancellors
and senior politicians have often used Mercedes-Benz S-Class
vehicles and their predecessor models. The most famous variants were the Mercedes 300 series "Adenauer" and the stretched "Pullman" variants. Currently the State Car of the President of Germany
is an armored Mercedes-Benz S600 with license plate 0-1, but he has also used an Audi A8
. The President is the only German official whose official car shows a flag (a version of the President's standard) placed on the front of the hood.
All officials under personal protection from the Bundeskriminalamt
(BKA), Germany's equivalent to U.S. Secret Service protection, use transportation from the BKA pool of armoured car
s and BKA driving staff. The car pool includes armored limousines from all German car manufacturers, usually high-end models such as the Audi A8
, Volkswagen Phaeton
, BMW 7 Series
and Mercedes-Benz S-Class
.
Some German politicians choose to express their regional origins through the make of car they use. In particular officials from Bavaria customarily prefer cars from Munich-based BMW over the more common Mercedes brand. Some high-ranking politicians from Alliance '90/The Greens
(Germany's green party) have chosen Audi, VW or BMW cars to avoid the posh and elitist image of Mercedes models. While in office, former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder
initially used an Audi for his official car, a brand he is known to prefer as his personal car as well. Later during his administrative term, Volkswagen presented him with a VW Phaeton which found its way into the car pool. His successor in office, current Chancellor Angela Merkel
is known to alternate between brands as to project neutrality and support for the German car industry in general.
One of the earliest links between a leader and a particular marque was the association of Adolf Hitler
with Mercedes-Benz. The Führer
was known for his love of luxury cars and ordered a succession of custom vehicles from Mercedes, culminating in the 770K
model of 1941, which was rumoured to weigh up to five tonnes. These cars and their predecessors became synonymous with Nazi parades and Hitler's visits to conquered cities such as Vienna
and Paris.
currently uses a heavy armoured, custom-built W221 Mercedes-Benz S600 escorted by custom built Mercedes-Benz G-Class vehicles. Past PMs have also used a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Long-Wheelbase Limousine. The president, also, uses a W221 Mercedes-Benz S600, wearing the Greek coat of arms.
The monarchs in 1930s were using a Maybach Zeppelin
.
and a coat of arms
license plate, escorted by police
motorcycle
outriders and two black Mitsubishi SUVs
.
Donald Tsang
is usually driven in the Lexus LS 600h L hybrid vehicle
, without a license plate and bearing the Emblem of Hong Kong. Occasionally, he is also seen using a 1997 Mercedes-Benz S500L.
The British Governor of Hong Kong
used a Rolls-Royce Phantom V
as his ceremonial car and a Daimler DS420
limousine for day to day transport. The Rolls-Royce was a Phantom V, chassis number 5BV7, originally intended as a Park Ward bodied seven passenger limousine for the British ambassador in Tokyo. During production the order was changed to a State Landaulette (Design number 1000) for the use by the Governor of Hong Kong. The car was also used by Queen Elizabeth II during an official visit in 1975. Having dropped the governor at the dockside for his departure on the Royal Yacht Britannia
on the night of the handover to China, these vehicles were removed by a Royal Navy
transport ship, RFA Sir Percivale (L3036)
. The car did not have license plate, instead bearing an image of St Edward's Crown on the front and rear bumpers.
Other senior government officials, including the Chief Secretary, Chief Justice
and Commissioner of Police, are each assigned a Volkswagen Phaeton
.
, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, is driven by a chauffeur in a Lexus LS
600hL with the license plate of "1."
For special occasions the president also uses a 1942 Packard.
travels in a Mercedes Benz S600 (W221) Pullman Guard. It's a custom-built, heavily armored limousine which meets the requirements of the highest protection class VR6/VR7. The armor is designed to protect against military rifle shots. It also offers resistance against fragments from hand grenades and explosives.
The Prime Minister
uses the B7-level
armored BMW 7 Series High Security saloons. It's escorted by the SPG
in the BMW X5 Security Plus which are a permanent part of the Prime Minister's convoy.
Earlier, Hindustan Motors
' Ambassador was used as the official state car for all purposes. It was up-armored and modified considerably for the use by the President and the Prime Minister.
is driven in one of two black, armored 2008 Mercedes-Benz S600L
W221 models, bearing the license plates "RI 1" (Republic of Indonesia One). The President rides in one vehicle, while the other is commonly used as a decoy. The Vice President
is driven in a similar car, bearing the "RI 2" (Republic of Indonesia Two) license plate.
The previous official car, two black, armored 1994 Mercedes-Benz S600L
W140 is now used as a backup vehicle. Two black BMW X5
is also available for use, notably during the Jakarta floods of 2007
.
The President's motorcade is accompanied by security personnel in Mercedes-Benz G-Class
, BMW X5
, Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser
models, sometimes also accompanied by a number of Toyota Camry
, Nissan Patrol
and Ford Expedition
models carrying his entourage.
A Volkswagen Caravelle and a Toyota Alphard
is also present in the motorcade, carrying his security guards. The motorcade is escorted by either a number of Mazda6, Mitsubishi Galant
, or Ford Focus
police cars and also police motorcycle.
Cabinet ministers
are driven in black Toyota Crown
vehicles, escorted by security guards in black Nissan X-Trail
cars, while members of the parliament
are given either Toyota Fortuner
or Toyota Kijang Innova models without security escort.
Governors of various provinces in Indonesia are usually given Toyota Camry
vehicles as their official car, although some provinces such as DKI Jakarta use the Volvo S80
.
models. The Prime Minister uses an armoured Chevy Tahoe along with a Toyota Land Cruiser
and Chevrolet Suburban
.
While in power, Saddam Hussein
normally traveled in a Mercedes-Benz W126
, and also bought a large fleet of luxury cars for himself and his family. Ironically, some were classic American cars, many from the era of Al Capone
of whom Saddam Hussein was an admirer.
. Douglas Hyde
, the first president of Ireland
was provided with a state car, but his near fatal stroke
early into his term of office meant that he rarely travelled in public. When he retired in 1945 the Irish state decided that his successor, Seán T. O'Kelly
, needed a special state vehicle for formal occasions.
The daily transport of the president of Ireland
and the Taoiseach
are un-armoured Mercedes-Benz
S-Class saloons W221. The vehicles are driven by armed Gardaí (special branch police force). The Taoiseach and his Government Ministers usually sit in the passenger seat of their official cars. The presidential motorcade is led by a garda patrol car, then the presidential limo (with Irish flag and State Harp flag) followed by one or two unmarked garda cars usually BMW 5 Series
. The presidential fleet also includes an Audi A6
and a Volvo S80
. The Garda Traffic Corp also provide motorcycle escort around the motorcade. When the President or Taoiseach visit Northern Ireland they are driven in bulletproof SUVs.
uses a fleet of Toyota Land Cruiser
s, Audi A8
and Volvo S80
. The President of Israel
uses a Volvo
stretch limousine and Audi A8
.
The then President of Italy, Giovanni Gronchi
, personally ordered four custom-built Lancia
Flaminia
limousines for a state visit by Queen Elizabeth II
in 1961. The cars, all of which are landaulettes, were designed by Pininfarina
and based on an extended wheelbase from the standard saloon. Two of the cars are still in service today for state occasions.
Sandro Pertini drove a Maserati Quattroporte III during his tenure.
The current presidential car is an armoured Maserati Quattroporte complete with Italian flags, while the prime minister uses a similar vehicle. The government fleet also includes Audi A6 and A8, Lancia Thesis
and Lancia Thesis Stola S85 (limousine), BMW E60 and E65, Mercedes-Benz W211
, W212
and W221
, Alfa Romeo 159
and 166
models.
of Jamaica
is driven in a Mercedes-Benz S600 bearing the Jamaican flag and the flag of that office. Its license plate is "GG1". The Prime Minister of Jamaica
is driven in an unmarked dark green Mercedes Benz C300 .The Prime Minister's car uses a civilian license plate. It is unknown if these cars are armoured..
and the Empress of Japan
is a specially prepared Toyota Century Royal, a one-off $500,000 custom car. Custom built by Toyota, it stretches around 20 feet in length and 6.5 feet across, with extra amenities such as bulletproofing
and a granite entryway. The emperor was previously driven in a Nissan Prince Royal
(1967–2008), Cadillac Series 75
(1951–1970), Mercedes-Benz 770 W07 Series
(1932–1968), Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
(1921–1936), Daimler
(1913–1927). From 1935 to 1963, the royal household also possessed a fleet of five 1935 Packard Eights, one of which was Emperor Hirohito's personal car during that period.
The Prime Minister of Japan
travels in a Lexus LS 600h L, the official transport for the head of government, or a regular Toyota Century
escorted by a police motorcade which comprises numerous Toyota Celsiors.
is a specially prepared, heavily armored, black Chevrolet Suburban
, with licence plates 000-KS-001 or 1Z-001-01 (the new official licence plates of the Republic of Kosovo), escorted by support vehicles including, but not limited to, 5 other Chevy Suburban's, BMW 5 Series (E60), Audi A8
, Volkswagen Touareg
.
The vehicle features bulletproof windows, state-of-the-art protection systems, a stowable desk, and a gas-proof chamber for defense against gas attacks.
However, the current President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga
does not use the Chevy's. She uses heavily armoured Audi a8
for her trips throughout the country, escorted by an Audi a4
, Toyota Land Cruiser
's and of course police support vehicles.
The speaker of the Parliament
also uses heavily armoured Toyota Land Cruiser
v8 with licence plates 000-ks-002 or 2Z-001-01 (the new official licence plates of the Republic of Kosovo).
The Prime Minister of Kosovo
travels in a bulletproof BMW X5 (E70)
or Mercedes-Benz E-Class
with licence plates 000-KS-003 or 3Z-001-01(the new official licence plates of the Republic of Kosovo).
The president
, the speaker of the parliament, the prime minister
, and all members of the cabinet are escorted by BMW R900RT police motorcycle
s.
The foreign dignitaries are mostly driven in VW Touareg, Mercedes-Benz W221
, BMW 7-series, Toyota Land Cruiser
. They are escorted by the Secret Service and by the BMW R900RT police motorcycle
s.
on a daily basis. His motorcade consists of three identical cars escorted by Chevrolet Suburban
s and marked police vehicles. For state occasions, he uses a Rolls-Royce
.
. Prime Minister official cars include Mercedes Vito and Toyota Crown
, while Politburo members travel in Audi A6
(C6).
Cabinet ministers and vice minister official cars is Toyota Camry
(XV40) and Toyota Corolla
respectively. Visiting heads of state or government are chauffeured in Toyota Crown
.
, with the coat of arms of Latvia
as the number plate and front mounted Latvian flag.
Most of Latvian Parliament members use Audi A8
, but also Volvo S80
and other luxury sedans are in use.
S-class. The presidential car is often escorted by several Nissan SUVs carrying security personnel. Previous presidents such as Charles Taylor and Samuel Doe
were also driven in Mercedes-Benz. Some claim that Doe has purchased over 60 luxury Mercedes, which cost over US$ 60,000 each.
(the elected King of Malaysia) most commonly travels in a bulletproof stretched red Bentley Arnage
, a dark blue Bentley Continental Flying Spur
, or dark blue Mercedes-Benz S-Class
(for Her Royal Highness) bearing the Royal emblem as the license plate.
All royal heads of states in the nation are also transported in official/get-around cars bearing their respective royal emblems;
common choices include Rolls Royce Phantoms and Mercedes-Benz S-Class
, BMW 7 Series
and Maybach 62.
). The Prime Minister
has historically used a Proton Chancellor bearing the license plate Chancellor 13, although he has also been driven in a BMW 740Li
bearing the license plate Perdana Menteri (Prime Minister). He is also sometimes being driven around in a black Proton Perdana Executive
, a stretched mid-size sedan larger than the Proton Chancellor, also bearing a license plate with the number "13". His car is usually escorted by traffic police outriders as well as Volvo XC90
security cars.
Lower ranking government officials typically travel in Proton Perdanas. Like the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers and state governments were obligated to use Proton Perdana Executives. The only exception is the Chief Minister of Sarawak
, Abdul Taib Mahmud
, who is driven in a bulletproof Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow bearing Ketua Menteri Sarawak (Chief Minister of Sarawak) plates. The Mercedes S-Class and the BMW 7 Series
are also commonly seen as optional cars transporting Chief Ministers. In July 2008, claims of unreliability were brought forward against the Perdanas by the Terengganu
state government, which opted to replace its fleet of Proton Perdanas with Mercedes-Benz E200K
as the Perdanas were prone to breakdowns, but later considered auctioning the cars away. The Perak state government followed suit in December 2008 by purchasing 16 Toyota Camry
s to replace its fleet of Perdanas, and recently the state of Sabah
has also purchased 12 Volvo S80
s, but the Perdana's will still be in use by lower ranked officials.
and the First Lady
have available for their use an official fleet of 15 to 30 armoured Chevrolet Suburban
vehicles, managed by the Estado Mayor Presidencial
.
on a daily basis. He is escorted by a decoy BMW 7 Series, several BMW 5 Series
and five police motorcycles. The President of the Republic of Mauritius uses a Mercedes S600. He is escorted by a decoy S600 and two police motorcycles.
. The royal fleet also includes Range Rover
models (when he goes to mountainous places only), Mercedes-Benz S500 and various Lexus
models. One BMW 5-series, which travels in the King's motorcade, contains a communications jammer. An ambulance
is always present in the royal motorcade, which is usually escorted by police motorcycles.
The Prime Minister of Morocco is driven in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class
like all other ministers. The King also has a personal garage, which consists of a lot of sports cars, including three Laraki Fulgura
models, and an Aston Martin DB7
.
acquired a Lexus LS 600h hybrid sedan, making it one of his official transports. In addition he owns a Toyota Prius
and Lexus RX 400h
, and has also made use of a vintage Bentley
. He also owns a Rolls-Royce
and a Mercedes-Benz S-Class
, and has recently purchased a BMW Hydrogen 7
.
uses a Mercedes Benz S-Class with number plate 0001 and 0002 with Mongolian National Symbol on the regular road and uses a Toyota Land Cruiser
as an off road vehicle.
and senior state officials of Montenegro
use a fleet of Audi
limousines, notably the Audi A8
models, and lower ranked officials travel in Mercedes-Benz E-Class
models.
royal family
was a 1908 Renault
, purchased by Prince Hendrik
. In the years that followed it would be joined by nine royal limousines from the Amsterdam-based carriage maker Spijker
. Between 1925 and the late 1950s, the royal limousines were supplied by Cadillac
, after which the royal household switched to the Ford Motor Company
. However in 1957 a customized Royce Silver Wraith
was commissioned by Queen Juliana and delivered in 1958.
The current official royal limousine is a stretched Volvo S80
model, although other members of the royal family use different cars. Visiting heads of state
are chauffeured in a stretched Lincoln Continental. Other cars include a Mercedes-Benz 500
, 2 non-stretched Volvo S80s, and - strangely enough - a lime-green Ford C-max.
Most royal automobiles are painted in blue, with standard Dutch number plates, as well as a plate beginning with AA, a special designation for the royal household. The royal vehicles are armored. Other vehicles used by the royal family is an armored Audi, BMW or a Mercedes.
uses a Mercedes-Benz S-Class
. Previously, a BMW 7-Series was used. Both cars are owned by the Royal and Diplomatic Security Service (DKDB).
travels in a Jaguar XJ Sovereign
. Before 1996, he or she traveled in a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
. During official travel it is the only vehicle in the country not required to use standard number plates. The official flag of the Governor General is flown on the car in which he/she is travelling, The Queen of New Zealand has her own flag, which is used when she is travelling in the country, but there are no specific cars reserved for her use.
The Prime Minister
used to travel in one of two cars, one being a Holden Statesman/Caprice sedan or Ford Fairlane
, followed by the other vehicle containing their security detail (usually a VY or VE Holden Commodore SV6). But as of December 2007, New Zealand has bought a fleet (34) of BMW 730Ld limousines as its new fleet of ministerial cars which were commissioned in 2008. This was the first time in recent decades that the government had not gone with Australian Ford or Holden
vehicles. The Prime Minister's Wellington
based car has the number plate CR1 and all other cars in the fleet for Ministers have number plates starting in the CR series. The estimated purchase price per unit is NZ$ 69,900 In 2011 the Government upgraded the ministerial fleet with 34 new BMW 730d limousines. The retiring fleet is being kept on for use during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
uses a Mercedes-Benz G-Class
.
In the past the Somoza family used several luxury cars during their 43 years in the presidency.
A Mercedes-Benz Type 300
was used to for official ceremonies. Others were Mercedes-Benz
and Cadillac
limousines.
and other high profile government officials use a black armoured Peugeot 607
adorned with the Nigerian flag. Other luxury cars like the BMW 730Ld and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class
all armoured are used.
The President travels in a motorcade of 30 cars and ten escort motorcycles along with police cars. Foreign visitors also travel along in the president's car.
, Harald V
, uses a Lexus LS 600h limousine, acquired in early 2008. The Royal Family of Norway
also uses a 2007 Audi A8
, an E65 and E67 BMW 7 Series
and a stretched Volvo S80
. The BMWs are often driven by The King of Norway, Harald V
, and The Queen of Norway, Sonja
, themselves.
The Prime Minister of Norway
uses an armored BMW 750Li. The previous BMW 7-Series was not used since its weight exceeded certain regulations. The Prime Minister of Norway
are escorted by various BMW X5
s and Audi A6s driven by SMK Agents and The Norwegian Police Service
.
The various government officials are usually being transported in an Audi A6, a Mercedes E-Class or a Volvo S80.
In addition to this, his Garage contains:
and Prime Minister
of Pakistan
both have armoured
Mercedes-Benz W221
cars. Both the PM and the President travel in a motorcade with up to seven decoy components, each component exactly identical – one traffic police car escorting the flag bearing armored Mercedes followed by a Toyota Land Cruiser with electronic jamming devices, and two other Land Cruisers of guards. The head and tail of the overall motorcade is usually protected by many rapid response police vehicles. The motorcade is escorted by at least half a dozen traffic motorbikes, and is trailed by a military ambulance and a firefighting truck. When the PM and President travel out of city, the motorcades are additionally escorted by further vehicles of the local police. The convoy comprises 20 to 100 vehicles depending on the location and destination.
The Government of Pakistan
has also arranged for armoured cars equipped with jamming devices for the Senate Chairman
and Speaker of the National Assembly. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry also operates up to ten of these identical armoured cars which are used to transport VIPs and visiting Heads of States. Politicians are also seen in Toyota Land Cruiser
s. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
was assassinated in a Toyota Land Cruiser while campaigning for re-election.
is used for the Institutional Protection Service (S.P.I.) as escort presidential motorcade
and 400cc motorcycles. Motorcades of high-security involve as much as 10 vehicles. The vice President uses a blue armored Lincoln Navigator
.
uses two black, heavily armored Mercedes Benz S600 Guard
s, with one acting as a decoy vehicle. In motorcades/convoys, the President is escorted by the Presidential Security Group (PSG)
using a number of black Nissan Patrol
and white Toyota Fortuner
SUVs and a combination of the following vehicles: Toyota Land Cruiser
, Toyota Camry
, Chevrolet Suburban
, BMW 7 Series
and Police 400cc motorcycles. High-security motorcades involve as much as 40 vehicles, but the number of security vehicles really depend on the president's destination. The presidential cars are designated and registered with the plate number "1" and bears the Flag of the Philippines and the Presidential Standard
. Occasionally, the President boards a bulletproof Toyota Coaster
or Mitsubishi Rosa during provincial trips. The Vice President of the Philippines on the other hand uses a Mercedes Benz W140 S-Class, also backed up by the Presidential Security Group.
The current president, Noynoy Aquino, prefers to use his own personal vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser 200
over the black Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard
limousines.
Other cars used by Office of the President in previous decades include a 1937 Chrysler Airflow
, which served as the country's very first Presidential vehicle/limousine for Manuel L. Quezon
.
is usually driven in an armored Mercedes S600. The President has been seen in a BMW, what seems to have been a BMW 7 Series
.
The Prime Minister of Portugal
is driven in a VW Phaeton.
rides in his Mercedes-Benz S-Class
, escorted by a motorcade consisting of black BMW 5-Series (E60) models. He is also often seen driving his personal Dacia Duster
.
and has recently been superseded by a W221 model. The presidential motorcade will usually be escorted by police motorcycle outriders and a series of support vehicles including, but not limited to, the Mercedes G-Class, Mercedes E-Class, standard S-Class models, BMW 5-Series and Volkswagen Caravelle.
Under the USSR, the General Secretary of the Communist Party was always driven in a Russian-built ZIL-41047
, escorted by Chaika models. Two of the Zil limousines are still maintained in the Kremlin
garage and occasionally seen in use.
alternates between a 2010 Mercedes Benz S350L
and a 2001 Lexus LS430
, both of which are white like all of Singapore's previous state cars. When travelling to official events such as the National Day Parade
, the Presidential crest is displayed in place of a license plate, while normally it carries the plate SEP1.
The Prime Minister
usually travels in a white, short-wheelbase Mercedes Benz S280
, with civilian plates. The Prime Minister's Office keeps four official cars, all white Mercedes, ready for state occasions and visiting foreign dignitaries.
The President, Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament, are the only political appointees to be given official cars and not given car grants unlike other members of the cabinet
.
, Mercedes-Benz S-Class
, BMW 7-Series, Volkswagen Phaeton
, Range Rover
, BMW X5
, Škoda Superb
and other vehicles.
uses a Toyota Prius
for driving in Ljubljana
, and a BMW X5
or Audi A8
(extra-stretched version) for longer distances.
is driven in an armored BMW 7-Series or on occasion a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. A similar car is used by the Deputy President of South Africa
.
The presidential motorcade is composed of numerous Mercedes-Benz G-Class
, Jeep Grand Cherokee
, Range Rover
and Mercedes-Benz ML-Class models, followed by a number of Mercedes-Benz V-Class and police cars.
often rides in an armoured BMW 7 Series
limousine
which was purchased in 2005. Previously, a 2002-model Mercedes-Benz W220
was used, also used during peace talks with North Korea
. The presidential motorcade is escorted by Chevrolet Tahoe
, Chevrolet Suburban
and Ford Excursion
, also with several identical Mercedes-Benz W220
s.
Recently, his administration has purchased 3 armoured Hyundai Equus
limousines, as these are the first vehicles manufactured in South Korea to be secured from the factory at a level approaching that of BMW
or Mercedes-Benz
factory limousines.
has one of the largest fleets of cars in Spain. Various armoured vehicles are used by the family, including Audi A6
s, Mercedes-Benz S-Class
models and the exclusive Rolls-Royce Phantom IV
. Only 18 of the latter were ever built, all being reserved for royals or heads of state. Three were ordered by General Franco
for his personal use and are now available for use by the Spanish Royal Family
. One is a landaulette and the other two are limousines. A special order was placed on the marriage of the current Prince of Asturias
when a Phantom IV was rebuilt to include armoured protection. Modifications included heavy-duty air conditioning and a special glazed armoured bubble to protect the rear passengers. The modifications cost over €
360,000.
The Spanish Royal Family
currently uses mainly Mercedes-Benz S600 models for its official transport, with BMW 5-Series (2007–2008) cars as escort vehicles. The motorcade is composed of around 15 cars. The personal car of the King Juan Carlos I is an especially customised Maybach 57 S.
and Deputy Prime Minister
of Spain both use Audi vehicles. The premier's Audi A8L was purchased in March 2005 shortly after retiring the former A8 used by PM José María Aznar
. The vehicle, which then cost the Spanish government well over 380,000 Euros (aprox. $520,000 USD), is said to be equipped with the latest features, runflats, level B7+ armouring
, satellite communications and various special items that are kept secret by the Spanish officials. The fleet has been renovated and now includes various new Audi A8L, Mercedes-Benz S600 and A6s, although the president, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero
wanted to swap those cars for the hybrid Toyota Prius
to save fuel oil.
is driven in an armored Mercedes-Benz W221
, armored BMW 7 Series escorted by a number of Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser
and Nissan Patrol
cars. On special occasions, such as travelling on dirt roads, the President would use armored BMW X5
armored Ford Everest
, armored Land Rover Defender.
, escorted by the Swedish Security Service
in BMW X5
, BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class
models.
The current prime minister
is driven in armored BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class
, also escorted by the Swedish Security Service
.
has historically travelled in Cadillac
sedans, reflecting the ROC's close relations with the United States. Former President Chiang Kai Shek's two armored Cadillacs are on exhibition in the Lincoln Memorial
-like National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
in the capital city of Taipei
. The current president Ma Ying-jeou
uses an armored Cadillac DeVille
. However, his predecessor Chen Shui-bian discontinued use of a Cadillac, preferring a Lincoln in his first term and a BMW 7-Series in his second term.
travels in a Maybach 62 limousine, with police motorcycle outriders, and an escort of Mercedes S-Class (W221) and BMW 5-Series (F10) police cars. Other members of the royal family usually travel in different models. Most of them are Mercedes S-Class (W221). The other models including Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
, a Rolls-Royce Silver Spur stretch limousine, Rolls-Royce Silver Spur Park Ward, Lexus LS
460L, BMW 7-Series (E38
& E66), BMW 5-Series (E60), Cadillac DTS
stretch limousine, Volkswagen Caravelle TDi and Mercedes E55 AMG (W211). All of the royal cars are in Ivory colour.
From the fleet of royal vehicles, apart from the fleet of Mercedes S-Class some royal family member usually travel in different type of cars.
HM Queen Sirikit mostly travels by Cadillac DTS
stretch limousine and Cadillac Fleetwood
stretch limousine.
HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
usually travels by Rolls-Royce
cars. These Rolls-Royce's used to be HM the King's official cars. These Rolls-Royce collection including Rolls-Royce Phantom V
, Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
, Rolls-Royce Silver Spur stretch limousine.
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn usually travels by Lexus LS
460L, BMW 760Li (E66) and Mercedes S-Class (W221). For unofficial journeys, she also travels by Toyota Granvia
.
Other royal family members mostly travel by Mercedes S-Class (W221) for official journeys.
HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
also has a large collection of cars, including many classic models. Many vehicles formerly belonged to his father, and a few modern cars such as Mercedes-Benz
, BMW
, Porsche
, Ferrari
, Cadillac
etc.
HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha sometimes drives herself in a red Mini Cooper S and a lime Volkswagen Beetle
in the motorcade.
There are also royal cars in convertible form for the royal ceremonies, such as a Rolls-Royce Corniche
and a Cadillac STS
(The hard top was transformed into convertible top).
On important official Royal journeys, there are a group of more than 20 official cars in the motorcade including: Mercedes S-Class (W220), Mercedes E-class (W210&W211), BMW 7 Series
(E38), BMW 5 Series
(E39 and E60), Honda Accord
, Nissan Cefiro
and Nissan Teana
. These cars are painted in ruby red.
For unimportant official Royal journeys, the cars in the motorcade are a group of about 5 cars including: BMW 7 Series
(E38), BMW 5 Series
(E39 & E60), Mercedes S-Class (W221 & W220), Mercedes E-class (W210 & W211) and Nissan Teana
. These cars are all in ivory colour. Some of these cars are the ex-royal vehicles.
The Bureau of The Royal Household also has its own vehicles. These cars are mostly Nissan Teana
, BMW 5 Series
(E39 and E60) and Mercedes E-class (W210 and W211). These cars are painted in cream.
are armored black Mercedes Benz S (S600L-W220), black BMW 730LI (E66) and a black armored Range Rover
. However, Vejjajiva is also using his own BMW 5-Series ( 523I-E39).
The Prime Minister's motorcade is led by two police cars, followed by the Security Services in silver Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
and midnight blue Mercedes Benz E-class Estate (W211).
Since the 14th ASEAN Summit
in Hua Hin
. The government has bought the fleet of armored black Range Rover
to be official car of the Prime Minister and also for the guest of official state visits.
. It carries the license plate with a gold coat of arms for the President and PM-1 for the Prime Minister. Each motorcade also includes a decoy car, two police motorcycles, two 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser
s as support vehicles and a leading Toyota Camry
police vehicle.
and the Prime Minister of Turkey
use Mercedes-Benz S-Class
models.
President Rauf Denktas
of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, a state recognised only by Turkey, has a red BMW 750Li with gold crests replacing the number plate.
uses an armoured Mercedes-Benz S-Class
and an armoured VW Phaeton Model 2011 in a V12 long Version, and for the Motorcade amoured VW Touareg by Centigon
.
has a long history of bespoke limousines stretching back to Daimler
models owned by King Edward VII. On state occasions, Queen Elizabeth II usually travels in one of two custom-built Bentley State Limousine
s.
Delivered in 2002 to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee, these unique vehicles are based on the Bentley Arnage
floorpan, with a twin-turbocharged 6.75 litre V8 engine that produces 400 bhp (298 kW) and 616 lbf•ft (835 N•m
) of torque
, giving a maximum speed of 130 mph (210 km/h). The state limousine
is three feet longer than a standard Bentley Arnage, 10 inches taller and six inches wider. It is equipped with broad suicide doors, which are hinged at the rear and open almost 90 degrees. The car also has opaque rear window panels that can be removed to allow increased visibility when the occupant is attending a public event or installed for increased privacy when needed.
contains a rare Rolls-Royce Phantom IV
, which was purchased by Princess Elizabeth in 1950, becoming a state car upon her accession to the throne as Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. There are also two Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
models, including the bespoke Silver Jubilee Car, with a raised roof for enhanced visibility, presented by the British motor industry in 1977, as well as a standard model from 1987. The fleet is completed by three Daimler DS420
limousines, one of which was previously owned by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother until her death in 2002, which are normally used as support vehicles. The state cars are sometimes used when the Queen is travelling abroad and are also made available for visiting heads of state and other members of the royal family on official business. Under British law
, the monarch's State vehicles do not possess registration plates (although the three Daimler models do have them); but the monarch's personal vehicles and those of other members of the Royal Family
do.
A retired 1962 Rolls-Royce Phantom V
state car, as owned by both the Queen and the Queen Mother until 2002, can be seen in the purpose-built garage aboard the former Royal Yacht Britannia
in Edinburgh
and a state car (commonly the rarely used Phantom IV model) is usually on display at the Royal Mews
in Buckingham Palace
.
Prince Charles
uses an armoured Bentley Turbo R
, Range Rover
, Jaguar XJ
or Audi A6
. On state occasions, he is often seen in the Silver Jubilee Car, which lost the designation of "Number One State Car" (the vehicle most frequently used by the Queen) following the delivery of the Bentley State Limousines. On the evening of 9 December 2010, the car was attacked by student protestors as it carried the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to the Royal Variety Performance
in London
. The couple were unhurt, but the car, which was not armoured, was spattered with paint and one of the side windows was smashed. The Duke of York
uses a 2008 Bentley Arnage
with a personalised number plate featuring the letters 'DOY'.
, similar to that used by the Prime Minister
. This is escorted by the same vehicles as a state car. She also occasionally uses a Range Rover
, particularly for visits to rural areas and event such as county shows. On visits to Balmoral
and Sandringham
, as portrayed in the film, The Queen
, she has been seen at the wheel of a Land Rover Defender. The Duke of Edinburgh
owns a Land Rover Discovery
and a MetroCab
, the latter of which he uses for trips around central London. Other members of the royal family are usually driven in Audi A6
or Range Rover models. The Princess Royal
owns a Bentley Continental Flying Spur
which she uses for official and private engagements [1
converted to run on biofuel made from surplus local white wine. His Jaguars, Audi and Range Rover use biodiesel made from recycled cooking oil.
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
is usually driven in one of a fleet of armoured Jaguar XJ Sentinel
models, escorted by Range Rover
or Land Rover Discovery
vehicles and police motorcycle outriders. David Cameron
arrived at 10 Downing Street
following his appointment in a silver 2010 X350 model, but took delivery of his new X351 on 13 May 2010.
Since the early-1980s, when Margaret Thatcher
switched from the Rover P5
models that had been in use since the 1960s, all Prime Ministerial cars have been from the Jaguar XJ range of the day, or its Daimler
-badged variant. For the first few months of his premiership in 2007, Gordon Brown
reverted to the previous Prime Ministerial car, a navy blue (X308) model purchased in 2000, before starting to use the silver model.
The 2000 model replaced a British racing green X300 model, built for John Major
, which gained international media attention when it bore Tony Blair to Buckingham Palace on the day after the 1997 general election
. A British racing green
X308 took Gordon Brown to Buckingham Palace
on 6 April 2010 to request the dissolution of Parliament, but it was the 2000 model that took him on his last ride as Prime Minister.
All former prime ministers since 1975 have been provided with an armoured car, usually the same model as the current Prime Minister, along with police protection. Currently Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown enjoy this privilege. Blair currently uses a bespoke BMW 7-Series, which he paid for himself.
The British government maintains the Government Car and Despatch Agency
which provides transport for senior government officials. In December 2008, the service took delivery of a fleet of armoured BMW
760Li models for use by senior dignitaries and visiting politicians. The service also uses vehicles from Jaguar, Rover
, Ford and Vauxhall
, while some ministers use Toyota Prius
hybrid models.
travels in a heavily armored, custom-built limousine, which is often referred to as Cadillac One, or its less formal nickname of "The Beast". The vehicle is based on a GMC Topkick platform, and has the outward appearance of an enlarged Cadillac DTS
limousine, with styling elements from other vehicles in the Cadillac lineup.
The vehicle features bulletproof windows, state-of-the-art communication and protection systems, a stowable desk, and a gas-proof chamber for defense against gas attacks.
The vehicle was famously involved in an incident in Ireland on May 24th 2011 where it failed to clear the driveway of the U.S. embassy compound and was stopped with a loud clang as its undercarriage struck the driveway.
Unlike most other world leaders, with the occasional exception of Queen Elizabeth II
and the President of Russia, the U.S. president is accompanied on all foreign and domestic trips by a full motorcade of US government vehicles, including several presidential limousines, escort vehicles and a military ambulance, all of which are transported by the United States Air Force
using C-17 Globemaster III
aircraft. The US vehicles are typically complemented with coaches, police vehicles, ambulances and limousines provided by local authorities.
currently uses a Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. Ford Expedition
s, Toyota Sequoia
s, and Nissan Armada
s are available in the fleet from previous administrations. As part of the motorcade, one or two Ford Explorer
s, two white Ford Crown Victoria
s and at least one police motorcycle
are used. They carry standard Puerto Rico license plates, including the Governor's specialty "LGF-051" numeration.
Governor Luis Muñoz Marín
(1949–1965) used an armored Packard
given to him by President Harry S Truman, which is on exhibition at the Muñoz Marín Foundation Library and Museum. Governor Rafael Hernández Colón
(1973–1977, 1985–1993) ordered an armored Ford station wagon for which he was severely criticized and, thus, rarely used.
Each sitting Governor has the right to change the gubernatorial fleet as he or she may see fit, for example, Pedro Rosselló
used a Mercury Grand Marquis
and a GMC Yukon
, Sila Calderón used a Ford Expedition
and sometimes, for special occasions, a Buick Park Avenue
, while Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
used Nissan Armadas. As a tradition full size cars were used but since the late 1990s, SUVs are being used.
is an armoured 2005 Chevrolet Vectra, purchased by president
Tabaré Vázquez
when his term in office began on March 1, 2005. Previously, the Uruguayan head of state traveled in a Mitsubishi Galant
procured from the government's fleet of diplomatic vehicles.
As of August 2007, the presidential motor pool includes Mitsubishi Galant
s, Toyota Corolla
s, Volkswagen Vento
s, and Rover 75
s.
Municipal intendants of Uruguay are transported in armored Peugeot 607
s.
Supercharged with bulletproof windows.
sometimes drives a red IKCO Samand badged Centauro, or in red or green a Tiuna
truck accompanied with some ministers or governors or mayors, depending the occasion when he travels, usually travels with a high security personnel around, with a large convoy of armored SUV conformed by Ford Explorer
, Chevrolet Suburban
, Chevrolet Tahoe
, Chevrolet Trailblazer
, Chevrolet Express
, Ford Expedition
, Toyota 4Runner
, Toyota Fortuner
, Toyota Sequoia
, Jeep Grand Cherokee
, and an ambulance in case of any emergency, plus is escorted with the Presidential Guard that uses armored Toyota Land Cruiser
(80&90 Series), the transit police and the Venezuelan National Guard
motorcycle officers have the duty to escort the motorcade and to clear up the traffic.
Another fleet of vehicles includes a Cadillac Fleetwood
that is used for national holidays like special parades, also the president uses 3 armoured black (W211)
, these vehicles carries the license plate with the national emblem, but this are used for special occasions or important meetings when Hugo Chávez
reunites with other Presidents, another vehicle is an armored silver Lincoln Town Car
that is used to shuttle the President visitors from the Simón Bolívar International Airport of Maiquetia to the Palacio de Miraflores
and vice versa.
For his vice president Elias Jaua
is usually driven in an armored Nissan Patrol
with a motorcade of 4 or 5 SUV, his ministers are usually seen in armored vehicles like: Chevrolet Impala
, Chevrolet Trailblazer
, Chevrolet Tahoe
, Jeep Grand Cherokee
, Toyota 4Runner
, Toyota Camry
, Toyota Fortuner
, Ford Fusion (Americas), Ford Explorer
, Ford Expedition
also escorted with the Venezuelan National Guard
officers.
The last acquisition to the fleet is a Bentley Continental Flying Spur
.
had, at his disposal, a fairly impressive collection of limousines. Amongst the luxurious limousines he used were numerous Mercedes Benz automobiles, mostly Mercedes Benz 600 Pullman models, and a 540k and 770k seized from Ante Pavelić
after WWII, several Rolls-Royces, Cadillac
s, Chevrolet
s and many others.
limousine. His car is escorted by 30 officers of the Zambia Police, trained in diplomatic protection, on BMW
motorcycles and in six BMW 3 Series
E93 models. His motorcade also includes an ambulance at all times. For visits to rural areas the preident uses an armoured Toyota Land Cruiser
100 Series.
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
in an official capacity, which may also be used occasionally to transport other members of the government or visiting dignitaries from other countries. On a state visit
State visit
A state visit is a formal visit by a foreign head of state to another nation, at the invitation of that nation's head of state. State visits are the highest form of diplomatic contact between two nations, and are marked by ceremonial pomp and diplomatic protocol. In parliamentary democracies, heads...
, the official state car might be transported for official use by the head of state upon their arrival. It also may serve as an automotive symbol of the head of state and their country. Part of the criteria for an official state car is to have adequate security, capability and stateliness for its duty. A limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
, executive car
Executive car
Executive car is a British term that refers to a car's size and is used to describe an automobile larger than a large family car. In official use, the term is adopted by EuroNCAP, a European organisation founded to test car safety.- History :...
or sport utility vehicle
Sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. It is usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle. Not all four-wheel...
is usually selected.
Due to the high security risk for the passengers, these vehicles are often heavily secured and protected. Vehicles may be armored
Armored car (VIP)
A civilian armored car is a security vehicle which made by replacing the windows of a standard vehicle with bulletproof glass and inserting layers of armor plate into the body panels...
by the manufacturer or an after-market specialist. When dignitaries are on board, state vehicles will usually be surrounded by a motorcade
Motorcade
A motorcade is a procession of vehicles. The term motorcade was coined by Lyle Abbot , and is formed after cavalcade on the false notion that "-cade" was a suffix meaning "procession"...
consisting of police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
and/or military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
personnel. The vehicle's driver might also be from the law enforcement or military pool, with the driver of the United States Presidential State Car being an experienced agent from the Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
.
Official state cars are often those of domestic manufacturers, allowing the head of state and the government of each respective country an opportunity to show confidence in their nation's automotive industry, and allow their automakers a chance to demonstrate their technology and skill by creating a special vehicle for the task. For example, the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
rides in the domestic Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
, the Emperor of Japan
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
uses a Toyota, the British monarch uses a Bentley
Bentley
Bentley Motors Limited is a British manufacturer of automobiles founded on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley known as W.O. Bentley or just "W O". Bentley had been previously known for his range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later...
and the Prime Minister of Italy
Prime minister of Italy
The Prime Minister of Italy is the head of government of the Italian Republic...
uses a Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
. Some countries alternate between vehicles made by each of their domestic manufacturers, and it is considered an honour for a car manufacturer to be selected to provide a state car for their respective country.
For countries without indigenous manufacturers, an official state car may be purchased from a suitable manufacturer in a nation with strong economic and diplomatic ties. Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
exclusively uses state cars manufactured by the Detroit Three, many of which are made in Canadian factories, with the United States and American car manufacturers having a historically strong relationship with Canada. The Canadian government also holds shares in General Motors and Chrysler following their restructuring in the economic downturn of 2008.
Argentina
The President of ArgentinaPresident of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
uses a fleet of armored Audi A6
Audi A6
The Audi A6 is an executive car marketed by the German automaker Audi AG, now in its fourth generation. As the successor to the Audi 100, the A6 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany – and is available in saloon, and wagon configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant.All generations...
with standard registration plates.
Australia
Governor General
The Governor-General of AustraliaGovernor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
travels in a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
The Phantom VI was an ultra-exclusive Rolls-Royce model made from 1968-1991.Based on the Phantom V, the Phantom VI had a re-styled facia and was powered by an engine derived from the current Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow...
limousine for ceremonial occasions, such as the State Opening of Parliament
State Opening of Parliament
In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is held in the House of Lords Chamber, usually in November or December or, in a general election year, when the new Parliament first assembles...
. She more commonly uses Australian-built luxury cars when on official business. The official cars of the Governor-General fly the Flag of the Governor-General of Australia
Flag of the Governor-General of Australia
The Flag of the Governor-General of Australia is an official flag of Australia and is flown continuously in the presence of the Governor-General of Australia....
and display St. Edward's Crown
St. Edward's Crown
St Edward's Crown was one of the English Crown Jewels and remains one of the senior British Crown Jewels, being the official coronation crown used in the coronation of first English, then British, and finally Commonwealth realms monarchs...
instead of number plates. A similar arrangement is used for the Governors of the six states. When the Queen is in Australia, the Queen's Personal Australian Flag
Queen's Personal Australian Flag
The Queen's Personal Australian Flag, sometimes known as the Royal Standard of Australia is the personal flag of Queen Elizabeth II in her role as Queen of Australia. The flag was approved for use in 1962. It is only used by the Queen when she is in Australia, or attending an event abroad in her...
is flown on the car in which she is travelling.
Prime Minister
The Prime Minister of AustraliaPrime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
is usually seen in a white Holden Caprice tailed by multiple Ford Territory
Ford Territory
The Ford Territory is a crossover SUV built by Ford Australia and based on the EA169 platform of the Ford BA Falcon. It was released in April 2004. Its code name inside Ford was E265. It won the 2004 Wheels Car of the Year award, the reviewers praising car-like handling and practicality as reasons...
models. It is also escorted by police vehicles from state and federal authorities. The Prime Minister's car bears the number plate "C1" (meaning "Commonwealth 1") and a centrally mounted Australian flag. The vehicles are heavily armoured and, unlike many overseas counterparts, the Prime Minister is frequently seen in the front passenger seat.
Austria
Senior government figures in Austria use Audi A8Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
, BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
and Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
models.
Azerbaijan
President of AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...
travels in an armored
Armored car (VIP)
A civilian armored car is a security vehicle which made by replacing the windows of a standard vehicle with bulletproof glass and inserting layers of armor plate into the body panels...
Maybach 62
Maybach 57 and 62
The Maybach 57 and 62 were the first automobile models of the Maybach brand since the brand's revival by DaimlerChrysler AG . They are derived from the Mercedes-Benz Maybach concept car presented at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show...
limousine.
Sometimes he uses a heavy armored, custom-built Mercedes-Benz W221 S600 Guard Pullman.
Bangladesh
The President of Bangladesh is usually driven in a white armoured Mercedes-Benz S-ClassMercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
while the President also has use of a black Mercedes Benz W126 limousine that is used on state occasions, such as the Independence Day parade.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh uses either a white B7 Level armoured BMW 7-Series or a metallic silver, armoured Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a long one of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short...
SUV.
The Elite Special Security Force & Army Guards Regiment in the President/Prime Minister's motorcade use specially modified Lexus LX
Lexus LX
The Lexus LX is a full-size sport utility vehicle sold by Lexus since 1996. Three generations of the Lexus LX have been produced, all based heavily on the long-running Toyota Land Cruiser series of SUVs. The first generation LX 450 debuted in 1996 as Lexus' first entry into the SUV market. Its...
s and Nissan Patrol
Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol is a four-wheel drive vehicle manufactured by Nissan in Japan since 1951. In Japan since 1980, it has been known as the Nissan Safari. The Patrol is available in Australasia, Central and South America, South Africa, parts of Southeast Asia and Western Europe as well as Iran and...
s equipped with advanced communication systems.
Barbados
The Official vehicle of the Prime Minister of Barbados - license plate 'MP2' is a 2009 Mercedes Benz S-Class, which is used for official functions.Bhutan
The former King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye WangchuckJigme Singye Wangchuck
Jigme Singye Wangchuck is the former King of Bhutan. He was the fourth Dragon King of Bhutan from 1972 until his abdication in favour of his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in 2006...
, drove a Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
when travelling around the kingdom.
Present King of Bhutan, driven in Range Rover.
Bolivia
The President of BoliviaPresident of Bolivia
The President of Bolivia is head of state and head of government of Bolivia. According to the current Constitution, the president is elected by popular vote to a five year term, renewable once...
is driven in a BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
and a Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
200 series. The president also is driven in Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
and he is escorted by 10
Toyota Sequoia
Toyota Sequoia
The Toyota Sequoia is a full-size SUV produced by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana in Princeton, Indiana. It is derived from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck but differs in its use of an independent rear suspension. It is priced between the mid-size 4Runner and Toyota's flagship Land Cruiser...
.
Brazil
The ceremonial state car of the President of BrazilPresident of Brazil
The president of Brazil is both the head of state and head of government of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces...
is a 1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith
Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith
For information on the Silver Wraith II, see Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.The Silver Wraith was the first post-war Rolls-Royce model and was made at the Crewe factory from 1946 to 1959....
, reserved exclusively for Independence Day commemorations, state visits and the presidential inauguration
Brazilian presidential inauguration
The inauguration of the President of Brazil is composed of several ceremonies that happen in the same day.Through democratic elections or coups, resignations and deaths, presidential inaugurations have been important events in Brazilian history....
.
The current official state car used by the president for regular transportation is a 2011-model armored version of the Ford Fusion Hybrid
Ford Fusion Hybrid
The Ford Fusion Hybrid is a gasoline-electric hybrid powered version of the mid-size Ford Fusion sedan developed by the Ford Motor Company, and launched to the U.S. market in March 2009 as a 2010 model, together with its twin the Mercury Milan Hybrid. The Fusion Hybrid is manufactured at Ford's...
. The car is also used as escort car for the presidential motorcade
Motorcade
A motorcade is a procession of vehicles. The term motorcade was coined by Lyle Abbot , and is formed after cavalcade on the false notion that "-cade" was a suffix meaning "procession"...
. The Fusion was first used on 17 June 2008 when it replaced a 2004 Chevrolet Omega
Chevrolet Omega
Based on the Opel Omega A, the Chevrolet Omega A debuted in Brazil in 1992 with a choice of two engines — a 2.0 L four-cylinder and 3.0 L six-cylinder . From 1995, the engines were upgraded to a 2.2 L four and a 4.1 L six respectively...
.
The federal government's most important officials (President, Ministers, Magistrates, etc.) use yellow-green brass plates adorned with the Coat of Arms of Brazil
Coat of arms of Brazil
The coat of arms of Brazil was created on November 19, 1889, four days after Brazil became a republic.The coat of arms consists of the central emblem surrounded by coffee and tobacco branches, which were important crops in Brazil at that time.In the blue circle in the center, the Southern Cross ...
and their titles engraved on them (i.e. President of the Republic, President of the Senate, Defense Minister, Supreme Court President, etc.).
British Virgin Islands
The current Governor of the British Virgin IslandsGovernor of the British Virgin Islands
The Governor of the British Virgin Islands is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of British Virgin Islands. The Governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government...
is driven in a Royal Service Gray Range Rover from Great Britain with a license plate symbolizing the Crown. He is usually driven by a Police Officer from the RVIPF (Royal Virgin Islands Police Force).
Brunei
The ceremonial state car of the Sultan of Brunei is a 1992 state landaulette Rolls-Royce Phantom VIRolls-Royce Phantom VI
The Phantom VI was an ultra-exclusive Rolls-Royce model made from 1968-1991.Based on the Phantom V, the Phantom VI had a re-styled facia and was powered by an engine derived from the current Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow...
. On non-ceremonial occasions, the Sultan of Brunei personally drives a black Mercedes Benz W163 ML55 AMG, usually escorted by either a Secret Service BMW E39
BMW E39
The BMW E39 is the BMW 5 Series made between 1995 and 2003. The E39 was the successor of the BMW E34 in 1995, and itself was replaced by the E60 platform in 2003. Sales to Germany and the United Kingdom began in 1995, and by 1996 sales to the rest of the world had commenced. A mid-generational...
540i or a BMW E61 545i, and a few Lexus LX470. On other occasions he drives a Maybach 62. Hassanal Bolkiah
Hassanal Bolkiah
General Haji Sir Hassan al-Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah GCB GCMG is the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the 29th Sultan of Brunei and the first Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam...
, the current Sultan of Brunei, owns several thousand luxury and exotic cars and has one of the largest car collections in the world.
The member of the Royal Family are usually escorted by a Secret Service escort Volvo S80
Volvo S80
The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive saloon/sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, and was introduced in 1998 to take the place of the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 saloons in the model range. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most Volvo models, it...
V8 models, or Mitsubishi 380
Mitsubishi 380
The Mitsubishi 380 is a mid-size car that was produced by Mitsubishi Motors Australia between 2005 and 2008. It was the successor to the Mitsubishi Magna/Verada line of vehicles first introduced in 1985. The company spent over A$600 million developing and producing the car, which is heavily based...
.
The Cabinet Ministers of Brunei and visiting foreign dignitaries are driven in a black Mercedes Benz W221 S350L, while other senior ranking officials are driven in a black Mercedes Benz W211 E280.
Canada
The Canadian monarch and Governor General of CanadaGovernor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
are driven in a Lincoln Town Car
Lincoln Town Car
The Lincoln Town Car is a full-size luxury sedan that was sold by the upscale Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company; it was produced from 1981 to the 2011 model years...
or a Lincoln MKS
Lincoln MKS
The Lincoln MKS is a full-size luxury sedan from the Lincoln division of the Ford Motor Company. The MKS first appeared in concept form at the North American International Auto Show in January 2006 with the production version, a 2009 model, appearing later at the Los Angeles International Auto...
bearing the flag of either office on the right hand fender. The sovereign's car bears a licence plate showing a gold St. Edward's Crown
St. Edward's Crown
St Edward's Crown was one of the English Crown Jewels and remains one of the senior British Crown Jewels, being the official coronation crown used in the coronation of first English, then British, and finally Commonwealth realms monarchs...
on a red field. The Governor General's car bear a plate similar to the Flag of the Governor General of Canada
Flag of the Governor General of Canada
The Flag of the Governor General of Canada was adopted in 1981. It features Canada's royal crest; a crowned lion holding a red maple leaf in its paw, standing on a wreath of the official colours of Canada , on a blue background...
or standard auto plates of the province of Ontario with flags of the Governor General on the front hood. The governor general also has a Cadillac DTS stretch limousine at his/her disposal.The Governor General has also been seen in a 2010 Ford Flex.
Prior to the use of the state car, a 1911 Canadian state landau was used to transport the Queen from Rideau Hall to Parliament Hill.
The Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
is driven in a motorcade of three cars or more. The motorcade is adjusted for certain public events, as seen fit by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
. The prime minister usually rides in an armoured long-wheelbase Cadillac DTS
Cadillac DTS
The Cadillac DTS is a full-size luxury sedan produced by General Motors, an American automobile company. The DTS replaced the Cadillac DeVille as General Motors' largest luxury car for the 2006 model year...
or Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
but has also been seen arriving at various events in a Toyota Sienna
Toyota Sienna
The Toyota Sienna is a family minivan currently manufactured by Toyota at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana in Princeton, Indiana, United States for the North American market. It replaced the first-generation Previa van in 1997 with a more conventional front wheel drive layout and shares a heavily...
minivan when travelling with members of his family. The Prime Minister is also eligible to use the governor general's Cadillac stretch limousine at various times. The Prime Minister's car bear standard Ontario car plates. The Prime Minister's motorcade is usually led by a Chrysler 300
Chrysler 300
The Chrysler 300 is a full-size upscale car first shown at the 2003 New York Auto Show as a concept car. Sales in the U.S. began in the spring of 2004 as an early 2005 model year car. Designed by Ralph Gilles, the new 300 was built as a high-end sedan while the SRT-8 model was designed to be the...
, a Dodge Charger
Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is an American automobile manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler. There have been several different Dodge vehicles, built on three different platforms and sizes, all bearing the Charger nameplate...
, or a Mercury Grand Marquis
Mercury Grand Marquis
The Mercury Grand Marquis was a full-size rear-wheel drive sedan sold by the Lincoln-Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company; the Grand Marquis was the flagship of the Mercury lineup. The nameplate itself had been in use since 1975 as the premium trim level of the Mercury Marquis; the Grand...
.
Cayman Islands
The Governor of the Cayman IslandsGovernor of the Cayman Islands
The Governor of the Cayman Islands is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of the Cayman Islands. The Governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government...
is driven in a beige Cadillac DeVille
Cadillac DeVille
The de Ville was originally a trim level and later a model of General Motors' Cadillac marque. The first car to bear the name was the 1949 Coupe de Ville, a prestige trim level of the Series 62 luxury coupe. The last model to be formally known as a de Ville was the 2005 Cadillac Deville, a...
sedan. Surmounted on the hood is the flag of the office, and instead of license plates the car has a crown on the front and back. It is likely that the car is armoured but this is not known for certain. Other senior officials and visiting VIPs utilize a fleet of armoured Ford Excursion
Ford Excursion
The Ford Excursion is a full-size sport utility vehicle that was produced by the Ford Motor Company between model years 2000 and 2005 . Based on the Super Duty pickup truck platform, it served as Ford's largest SUV in its lineup during the tenure of its production and mainly competed against the...
s.
Chile
The official presidential vehicle in Chile is a black Ford GalaxieFord Galaxie
The Ford Galaxie was a full-size car built in the United States by the Ford Motor Company for model years 1959 through 1974. The name was used for the top models in Ford’s full-size range from 1959 until 1961, in a marketing attempt to appeal to the excitement surrounding the Space Race...
XL Convertible, purchased in 1966. It is only used for official ceremonies celebrating national days on May 21, September 18 and September 19. It has a normal license plate (EL-2801).
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
was previously driven in a Lincoln Town Car
Lincoln Town Car
The Lincoln Town Car is a full-size luxury sedan that was sold by the upscale Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company; it was produced from 1981 to the 2011 model years...
, but President Michelle Bachelet
Michelle Bachelet
Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria is a Social Democrat politician who was President of Chile from 11 March 2006 to 11 March 2010. She was the first woman president of her country...
used a 2008-model armoured Peugeot 607
Peugeot 607
The Peugeot 607 was an executive car produced by the French automaker Peugeot from September 1999 to June 2010.The 607, along with the smaller 407, was superseded by the 508 in early 2011.-History:...
saloon. Her motorcade was often seen driving 2006 Audi A4
Audi A4
The first generation Audi A4 debuted in 1994, with production starting November 1994. It was built on the Volkswagen Group B5 platform, which it shared with the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat . It had a front-mounted longitudinal engine and front-wheel drive...
and A6s
Audi A6
The Audi A6 is an executive car marketed by the German automaker Audi AG, now in its fourth generation. As the successor to the Audi 100, the A6 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany – and is available in saloon, and wagon configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant.All generations...
. Various 2007 Dodge Durangos also compose the presidential motorcade.
The newly elected president Sebastian Piñera
Sebastián Piñera
Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique is a Chilean businessman and politician. He was elected President of Chile in January 2010, taking office in March 2010.- Education :...
was arrived at the Presidential Palace in a brand new 2010 BMW 760Li F03 (armored). Various Audi Q7's, BMW 5 series, Audi's A6 were seen driving along with him.
In May, a Lexus LS 600h, was chosen by Piñera as the official presidential vehicle.
People's Republic of China
As it is technically a communist state the President of the People's Republic of ChinaPresident of the People's Republic of China
The President of the People's Republic of China is a ceremonial office and a part of State organs under the National People's Congress and it is the head of state of the People's Republic of China . The office was created by the 1982 Constitution...
's official car is a Nissan Civilian
Nissan Civilian
The Nissan Civilian is a minibus built by Nissan & UD. It is primarily available as city bus and tourist bus.In Japan, Asia-Pacific, Mid-East, Africa, South America, its principal competitors are Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa, Isuzu Journey and Toyota Coaster.-General information:Nissan Civilian is sold...
minibus. The same arrangement goes for the Premier.
Historically, Chinese leaders have used the Hongqi
FAW Hongqi
Hongqi is a luxury car brand of First Automobile Works. These cars were the first domestically produced Chinese passenger vehicles.First manufactured in 1958, the original Hongqi models were only for high-ranking party elite and remained in production until 1981...
for official occasions, such as the review of troops on National Day. During Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...
's review of troops on National Day in 2009, he was seen in a Hongqi HQE
Hongqi HQE
The Hongqi HQE is a large four-door limousine built by FAW Hongqi. It is the first Chinese-built V12 cylinder engine-equipped luxury car. As Hongqi's most advanced top-of-the-line vehicle type, the HQE will serve as the high-end vehicle for VIPs and high-ranking national officials...
Limousine.
Colombia
Since 1991, the ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n Presidential vehicles have usually been BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
s. In 2006, the Presidential fleet included four armoured BMW 7-Series and several units of Toyota Land Cruiser 100, whose level of armour is a state secret. These BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
s and Toyotas are equipped with GPS and runflat tires.
Costa Rica
The President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, uses an armored Hyundai EquusHyundai Equus
The Hyundai Equus , known as the Hyundai Centennial in the Middle East, is an upscale full-size luxury car that serves as the flagship model of Hyundai Motor Company worldwide, named after the Latin word for "horse". The Hyundai Equus is the largest and most expensive sedan in the company's lineup...
Limousine as its official state car.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently uses Kia Opirus
Kia Opirus
The Kia Opirus was a full-size car manufactured and marketed by Kia Motors that was launched in April 2003 — and was marketed globally under various nameplates, prominently as the Amanti. It was considered to be Kia's flagship vehicle....
cars.
Croatia
The President of CroatiaPresident of Croatia
The President of Croatia , officially styled the President of the Republic represents the Republic of Croatia in the country and abroad as the head of state, maintains the regular and coordinated operation and stability of the national government system, and safeguards the independence and...
uses an armoured Mercedes-Benz S600.
Denmark
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark uses a 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver WraithRolls-Royce Silver Wraith
For information on the Silver Wraith II, see Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.The Silver Wraith was the first post-war Rolls-Royce model and was made at the Crewe factory from 1946 to 1959....
seven-seater (LGLW 25 body no. 10181), commonly referred to as Store Krone (Great Crown)
Royal Danish Ceremonial Car "Store Krone"
The Royal Danish Ceremonial Car is the official state car of the head of state Queen Margaret II of Denmark.-Origins:King Frederik IX of Denmark commissioned the vehicle called "Store Krone" in 1958....
. It was purchased by her father, Frederick IX of Denmark
Frederick IX of Denmark
Frederick IX was King of Denmark from 20 April 1947 until his death on 14 January 1972....
as new. The coachbuilder and seller was Hooper & Co. (Coachbuilder)
Hooper (coachbuilder)
Hooper was a British coachbuilding company based in London.-Founding:The company was founded as Adams and Hooper in 1805 and held a royal warrant from 1830, building elegant horse drawn carriages, supplying them to King William IV, Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. The first royal car, a Hooper...
Ltd, 54 St James Street, Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Piccadilly is a major street in central London, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
, London SW1.
In addition she uses several lesser cars for more common occasions.
Noteworthy are Krone (Crown) 1, 2 and 5, which are all Daimler DS420
Daimler DS420
The Daimler DS420, popularly known as the Daimler Limousine, is a large limousine produced by Daimler Motor Company between 1968 and 1992. The vehicles are used extensively as official state cars in several countries, including by the British and Danish Royal Families...
eight-seater limousines made in 1970, 1989 (purchased 1994 with 1500 km on the clock) and 1986. Also a new Bentley Arnage
Bentley Arnage
The Bentley Arnage is a large luxury car produced by Bentley Motors in Crewe, England from 1998 to 2009. The Arnage, and its Rolls-Royce-branded sibling, the Silver Seraph, were introduced in the Spring of 1998, and were the first entirely new designs for the two marques since 1980.Another break...
, crown number 121. She is trying a new environmental car: the Lexus LS 600h, a hybrid.
The name Krone and number refers to the license plate used when carrying members of the Danish royal family
Danish Royal Family
The Danish Royal Family includes the Queen of Denmark and her family. All members except the Queen hold the title of Prince/Princess of Denmark with the style of His/Her Royal Highness or His/Her Highness. The Queen is styled Her Majesty. The Queen and her siblings belong to the House of...
inside Denmark.
The Prime Minister of Denmark
Prime Minister of Denmark
The Prime Minister of Denmark is the head of government in Danish politics. The Prime Minister is traditionally the leader of a political coalition in the Folketing and presides over the cabinet....
is driven in an armored Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
. The ministers in the Danish government drive different kinds of VW Phaeton and BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
. They are also seen in Volvo S80
Volvo S80
The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive saloon/sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, and was introduced in 1998 to take the place of the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 saloons in the model range. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most Volvo models, it...
s.
East Germany
The former East Germany manufactured the TrabantTrabant
The Trabant is a car that was produced by former East German auto maker VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau in Zwickau, Sachsen. It was the most common vehicle in East Germany, and was also exported to countries both inside and outside the communist bloc...
and Wartburg, both deemed unsuitable for state car usage. The leaders of the country used Russian-made cars and Swedish Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
models, while the Communist Party
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
General Secretary
General Secretary
The office of general secretary is staffed by the chief officer of:*The General Secretariat for Macedonia and Thrace, a government agency for the Greek regions of Macedonia and Thrace...
, Erich Honecker
Erich Honecker
Erich Honecker was a German communist politician who led the German Democratic Republic as General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1971 until 1989, serving as Head of State as well from Willi Stoph's relinquishment of that post in 1976....
, used a fleet of stretched Citroen
Citroën
Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...
CX
Citroën CX
The Citroën CX is an automobile produced by the French automaker Citroën from 1974 to 1991. Citroën sold nearly 1.2 million CXs during its 16 years of production. The CX was voted European Car of the Year in 1975....
models.
Ecuador
The presidential state car in EcuadorEcuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
is an armored Lincoln Town Car
Lincoln Town Car
The Lincoln Town Car is a full-size luxury sedan that was sold by the upscale Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company; it was produced from 1981 to the 2011 model years...
purchased by president Lucio Gutierrez
Lucio Gutiérrez
Lucio Edwin Gutiérrez Borbúa served as President of Ecuador from January 15, 2003 to April 20, 2005.- Political rise :Gutiérrez was prominent in a popular uprising that replaced President Jamil Mahuad for three hours in January 2000...
in 2005. An armored Chevrolet Trooper
Isuzu Trooper
The Isuzu Trooper was a mid-size SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Isuzu between 1981 and 2005. It was exported worldwide as the Isuzu Bighorn, Isuzu Trooper, Isuzu Trooper II , Caribe 442, Acura SLX, Chevrolet Trooper, Subaru Bighorn, Honda Horizon, Opel/Vauxhall Monterey, Holden Jackaroo,...
is also used.. The president travels in one of several armored Nissan Patrol scholastic level 7 for several Ford Explorers, Chevrolet D-Max. In the September 30, 2010 Nissan Patrol withstood high caliber ammunition in the midst of shooting the Police hospital in the city of Quito. Currently the Nissan Patrol fleet was changed by Toyota Land Cruiser 200.
Egypt
The presidential state car in EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
used by Hosni Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak
Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak is a former Egyptian politician and military commander. He served as the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011....
until February 2011
2011 Egyptian revolution
The 2011 Egyptian revolution took place following a popular uprising that began on Tuesday, 25 January 2011 and is still continuing as of November 2011. The uprising was mainly a campaign of non-violent civil resistance, which featured a series of demonstrations, marches, acts of civil...
was a black armored Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
. An earlier model of it helped save his life back in Ethiopia in 1995.
El Salvador
The President of El SalvadorPresident of El Salvador
This page contains a list of Presidents of El Salvador.-Heads of State of El Salvador within the Federal Republic of Central America :*Pedro Barriere : 21 September 1821 - 28 November 1821*José Matías Delgado : 28 Nov 1821 - 9 February 1823...
, Mauricio Funes
Mauricio Funes
Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena is the President of El Salvador. He won the 2009 presidential election as the candidate of the left-wing Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front political party and took office on 1 June 2009.-Biography:Funes is married to Dr. Vanada Pignado, who was involved in...
, uses an armored Mercedes-Benz W220
Mercedes-Benz W220
The Mercedes-Benz W220 was a series of flagship sedans which constituted the Mercedes-Benz S-Class during the early-to-mid 2000's. Development for the W220 S-Class started in 1992, with the final design being approved in 1996 spanning a total of 38 months. The completed prototypes were presented in...
as its official state car. He also drives or is driven in a Lexus LX 570, a Hummer H3
Hummer H3
The Hummer H3 was a crossover SUV/Sport Utility Truck from General Motors' Hummer division introduced in 2005 based on the GMT355 underpinning the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon compact pickup trucks. Produced at GM's Shreveport, Louisiana factory and the Port Elizabeth plant in South Africa the...
, a Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a Mid-size SUV produced by the Jeep division of Chrysler. While some other SUVs were manufactured with body on frame construction, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has always used a unibody chassis.- Development :...
SRT-8, a Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
and a 200 Series Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
. The President is generally escorted by six Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is a, mid-size four-wheel drive vehicle in the Toyota Land Cruiser range produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. The Prado is one of the smaller vehicles in the range...
Estonia
The President of EstoniaPresident of Estonia
The President of the Republic is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia.Estonia is a parliamentary republic, therefore President is mainly a symbolic figure and holds no executive power. The President has to suspend his membership in any political party for his term in office...
uses an armoured Audi A8
Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
4,2 TDI Quattro with the Coat of arms of Estonia as its license plate. The car is escorted by an Audi Q7
Audi Q7
The Audi Q7 is a full-size luxury crossover SUV unveiled in September 2005 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Production of the Q7 began in autumn of 2005 in Bratislava, Slovakia. It is the first SUV offering from Audi and went on sale in 2007. Later, Audi's second SUV, the Q5, was unveiled as a 2009...
. The Estonian Prime Minister uses an Audi A8
Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
registered in 2011.
Finland
The President of FinlandPresident of Finland
The President of the Republic of Finland is the nation's head of state. Under the Finnish constitution, executive power is vested in the President and the government, with the President possessing extensive powers. The President is elected directly by the people of Finland for a term of six years....
uses an armoured Mercedes-Benz S600L
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
with the Coat of arms of Finland
Coat of arms of Finland
The coat of arms of Finland is a crowned lion on a red field, the right forepaw replaced with an armoured hand brandishing a sword, trampling on a saber with the hindpaws...
as its "license plate". A similar car is used by the Speaker of the Parliament
Speakers of the Parliament of Finland
The Speaker of the Parliament of Finland , along with two Deputy Speakers, is elected by Parliament during the first plenary session each year. Speakers are chosen for a year at a time...
, whereas the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Finland
The Prime Minister is the Head of Government of Finland. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, who is the Head of State. The current Prime Minister is Jyrki Katainen of the National Coalition Party.-Overview:...
's official car is a grey armoured Mercedes-Benz S450 CDI
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
.
Most Finnish cabinet
Finnish Council of State
The Cabinet of Finland is the body that directs the Government of Finland. However, in governmental translations to English, the distinction is often blurred between cabinet and government in the wider sense...
members use Audi A6
Audi A6
The Audi A6 is an executive car marketed by the German automaker Audi AG, now in its fourth generation. As the successor to the Audi 100, the A6 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany – and is available in saloon, and wagon configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant.All generations...
s, but there are also Volvo S80
Volvo S80
The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive saloon/sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, and was introduced in 1998 to take the place of the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 saloons in the model range. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most Volvo models, it...
s and Saab 9-5
Saab 9-5
The Saab 9-5 is an executive car produced by the Swedish automobile maker Saab. The first generation was introduced in 1997 as the replacement to the Saab 9000 for the 1998 model year. At the time, the car represented a great leap forward for Saab...
s. The only armoured car besides the three most notable ones is the Foreign Minister's Audi A8
Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
.
France
The President of France can choose between several armoured versions of high-end French cars including the Citroën C6Citroën C6
The Citroën C6 is an executive car produced by the French luxury marque Citroën since 2005.-Overview:Inspired by the C6 Lignage prototype which was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in the spring of 1999, but differs from the concept car's styling in minor details...
, Renault Vel Satis
Renault Vel Satis
The Renault Vel Satis was an executive car produced by the French manufacturer Renault, launched at the 2001 Geneva Motorshow to replace the already-discontinued Safrane...
and Peugeot 607
Peugeot 607
The Peugeot 607 was an executive car produced by the French automaker Peugeot from September 1999 to June 2010.The 607, along with the smaller 407, was superseded by the 508 in early 2011.-History:...
. These are traditionally provided by the manufacturers and different Presidents will have their own preference. For example, Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
prefers Renault, while Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
was a Citroën fan, occasionally using his own long-wheelbase Citroën CX
Citroën CX
The Citroën CX is an automobile produced by the French automaker Citroën from 1974 to 1991. Citroën sold nearly 1.2 million CXs during its 16 years of production. The CX was voted European Car of the Year in 1975....
model and the Presidential Citroën XM
Citroën XM
The Citroën XM is an executive car that was produced by the French automaker Citroën between 1989 and 2000. Citroën sold 333,775 XMs during the model's 11 years of production...
.
For his inauguration
Oath of office
An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations...
parade in 2007, Sarkozy used the one-off Peugeot 607
Peugeot 607
The Peugeot 607 was an executive car produced by the French automaker Peugeot from September 1999 to June 2010.The 607, along with the smaller 407, was superseded by the 508 in early 2011.-History:...
Paladine model, a stretched limousine with landaulette body, originally built as a concept car in 2000. The model was brought out of storage for the occasion and updated with a new grille and lights to bring it in line with the 2004 re-style of the mainstream model. It has since been returned to Peugeot and, as it effectively remains a concept car in its fit and finish, will not become part of the Élysée
Élysée Palace
The Élysée Palace is the official residence of the President of the French Republic, containing his office, and is where the Council of Ministers meets. It is located near the Champs-Élysées in Paris....
fleet.
The most famous association between a President of France and a single model was that of Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
with the Citroën DS
Citroën DS
The Citroën DS is an executive car produced by the French manufacturer Citroën between 1955 and 1975. Styled by Italian sculptor and industrial designer Flaminio Bertoni and the French aeronautical engineer André Lefèbvre, the DS was known for its aerodynamic futuristic body design and innovative...
, as portrayed in the film, Day of the Jackal
The Day of the Jackal (film)
The Day of the Jackal is a 1973 Anglo-French film, set in August 1963 and based on the novel of the same name by Frederick Forsyth. Directed by Fred Zinnemann, it stars Edward Fox as the assassin known only as "the Jackal" who is hired to assassinate Charles de Gaulle.- Synopsis :The film opens...
. The President was saved in two assassination attempts by French Algeria supporters
Algerian War of Independence
The Algerian War was a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria's gaining its independence from France...
by the car's unique ability to drive on three wheels and to keep running when more than one tyre is punctured.
For ceremonial occasions, the President also has access to two unique Citroën SM
Citroën SM
The Citroën SM is a high-performance coupé produced by the French manufacturer Citroën from 1970 to 1975. The SM placed third in the 1971 European Car of the Year contest, trailing its stablemate Citroën GS, and won the 1972 Motor Trend Car of the Year award in the U.S. in 1972.-History:In 1961,...
Présidentielle landaulette models, created for President Georges Pompidou
Georges Pompidou
Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou was a French politician. He was Prime Minister of France from 1962 to 1968, holding the longest tenure in this position, and later President of the French Republic from 1969 until his death in 1974.-Biography:...
by the coachbuilder Henri Chapron
Henri Chapron
Henri Chapron was a prominent French automobile coachbuilder. His atelier, created in 1919, was located in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret....
. Based on the SM Opera, itself a special edition four-door convertible, these cars are still used for state occasions and military parades, when the open-top layout enables the President to stand in the back seat and survey the crowd. Built for an official visit by Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in 1972, the cars have a standard mechanical layout with the addition of a special gear for low-speed cruising. One of the these cars was also used by President François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
for the official opening of the Channel Tunnel
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
in 1994, when it accompanied the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
The Phantom VI was an ultra-exclusive Rolls-Royce model made from 1968-1991.Based on the Phantom V, the Phantom VI had a re-styled facia and was powered by an engine derived from the current Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow...
of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
. Number plates on these cars are standard French ones, although specially created for the model (2 PR 75 and 3 PR 75, '75' denoting the Paris region). Both are still maintained in working order, but are now rarely seen in use.
An international museum of official state cars also exists in France.
Germany
President of Germany
The President of the Federal Republic of Germany is the country's head of state. His official title in German is Bundespräsident . Germany has a parliamentary system of government and so the position of President is largely ceremonial...
, chancellors
Chancellor of Germany
The Chancellor of Germany is, under the German 1949 constitution, the head of government of Germany...
and senior politicians have often used Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
vehicles and their predecessor models. The most famous variants were the Mercedes 300 series "Adenauer" and the stretched "Pullman" variants. Currently the State Car of the President of Germany
President of Germany
The President of the Federal Republic of Germany is the country's head of state. His official title in German is Bundespräsident . Germany has a parliamentary system of government and so the position of President is largely ceremonial...
is an armored Mercedes-Benz S600 with license plate 0-1, but he has also used an Audi A8
Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
. The President is the only German official whose official car shows a flag (a version of the President's standard) placed on the front of the hood.
All officials under personal protection from the Bundeskriminalamt
Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany)
The Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany is a national investigative police agency in Germany and falls directly under the Federal Ministry of the Interior...
(BKA), Germany's equivalent to U.S. Secret Service protection, use transportation from the BKA pool of armoured car
Armored car (VIP)
A civilian armored car is a security vehicle which made by replacing the windows of a standard vehicle with bulletproof glass and inserting layers of armor plate into the body panels...
s and BKA driving staff. The car pool includes armored limousines from all German car manufacturers, usually high-end models such as the Audi A8
Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
, Volkswagen Phaeton
Volkswagen Phaeton
The Volkswagen Phaeton is a full-size luxury sedan/saloon manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen, and is described by Volkswagen as their "premium class" vehicle...
, BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
and Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
.
Some German politicians choose to express their regional origins through the make of car they use. In particular officials from Bavaria customarily prefer cars from Munich-based BMW over the more common Mercedes brand. Some high-ranking politicians from Alliance '90/The Greens
Alliance '90/The Greens
Alliance '90/The Greens is a green political party in Germany, formed from the merger of the German Green Party and Alliance 90 in 1993. Its leaders are Claudia Roth and Cem Özdemir...
(Germany's green party) have chosen Audi, VW or BMW cars to avoid the posh and elitist image of Mercedes models. While in office, former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder
Gerhard Schröder
Gerhard Fritz Kurt Schröder is a German politician, and was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany , he led a coalition government of the SPD and the Greens. Before becoming a full-time politician, he was a lawyer, and before becoming Chancellor...
initially used an Audi for his official car, a brand he is known to prefer as his personal car as well. Later during his administrative term, Volkswagen presented him with a VW Phaeton which found its way into the car pool. His successor in office, current Chancellor Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a...
is known to alternate between brands as to project neutrality and support for the German car industry in general.
One of the earliest links between a leader and a particular marque was the association of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
with Mercedes-Benz. The Führer
Führer
Führer , alternatively spelled Fuehrer in both English and German when the umlaut is not available, is a German title meaning leader or guide now most associated with Adolf Hitler, who modelled it on Benito Mussolini's title il Duce, as well as with Georg von Schönerer, whose followers also...
was known for his love of luxury cars and ordered a succession of custom vehicles from Mercedes, culminating in the 770K
Mercedes-Benz 770
The Mercedes-Benz 770, also known as the Großer Mercedes was a luxury automobile built by Mercedes-Benz from 1930 to 1943. It is probably best known from archival footage of high-ranking Nazi officials before and during World War II, including Adolf Hitler and Hermann Göring.-Series I - W07 :The...
model of 1941, which was rumoured to weigh up to five tonnes. These cars and their predecessors became synonymous with Nazi parades and Hitler's visits to conquered cities such as Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Paris.
Greece
The Prime Minister of GreecePrime Minister of Greece
The Prime Minister of Greece , officially the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic , is the head of government of the Hellenic Republic and the leader of the Greek cabinet. The current interim Prime Minister is Lucas Papademos, a former Vice President of the European Central Bank, following...
currently uses a heavy armoured, custom-built W221 Mercedes-Benz S600 escorted by custom built Mercedes-Benz G-Class vehicles. Past PMs have also used a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Long-Wheelbase Limousine. The president, also, uses a W221 Mercedes-Benz S600, wearing the Greek coat of arms.
The monarchs in 1930s were using a Maybach Zeppelin
Maybach Zeppelin
The Maybach Zeppelin was the top Maybach model from 1928 to 1934. Named for the company's famous production of zeppelin engines prior to and during World War I, it was an enormous luxury vehicle which weighed approximately 6600 lb.-DS7:...
.
Grenada
The current Governor General of Grenada is driven in a white BMW 750Li with a crown license plate symbolizing the Queen while the Prime Minister drives in a black BMW 750Li bearing a Grenadian flagFlag of Grenada
The national flag of Grenada was adopted upon independence from the United Kingdom, 7 February 1974. The six stars in the red border stand for the country's six parishes, with the middle star, encircled by a red disk, standing for the capital, Saint George's. The symbol in the hoist represents a...
and a coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
license plate, escorted by police
Law enforcement in Grenada
Law enforcement in Grenada is the responsibility of the Royal Grenada Police Force, or RGPF. The RGPF enforces criminal, immigration, and maritime laws. It is also held responsible for seaport security and fire services. With 15 police stations and 900 staff members, the force responds to over...
motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
outriders and two black Mitsubishi SUVs
Mitsubishi Pajero
The Mitsubishi Pajero is a sport utility vehicle manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors. It was named after Leopardus pajeros, the Pampas Cat which is native to the Patagonia plateau region of southern Argentina. However, since pajero is an offensive term for "wanker" in Spanish, alternative names have...
.
Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong KongChief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
Donald Tsang
Donald Tsang
Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, GBM, KBE is the current Chief Executive and President of the Executive Council of the Government of Hong Kong....
is usually driven in the Lexus LS 600h L hybrid vehicle
Hybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...
, without a license plate and bearing the Emblem of Hong Kong. Occasionally, he is also seen using a 1997 Mercedes-Benz S500L.
The British Governor of Hong Kong
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
used a Rolls-Royce Phantom V
Rolls-Royce Phantom V
The Phantom V was a large, ultra-exclusive four-door saloon made by Rolls-Royce from 1959 to 1968.Based on the Silver Cloud II, it shared a V8 engine and General Motors Hydramatic automatic gearbox with its smaller sibling. Rolls-Royce assembled the cars' chassis and drivetrains with bodies made to...
as his ceremonial car and a Daimler DS420
Daimler DS420
The Daimler DS420, popularly known as the Daimler Limousine, is a large limousine produced by Daimler Motor Company between 1968 and 1992. The vehicles are used extensively as official state cars in several countries, including by the British and Danish Royal Families...
limousine for day to day transport. The Rolls-Royce was a Phantom V, chassis number 5BV7, originally intended as a Park Ward bodied seven passenger limousine for the British ambassador in Tokyo. During production the order was changed to a State Landaulette (Design number 1000) for the use by the Governor of Hong Kong. The car was also used by Queen Elizabeth II during an official visit in 1975. Having dropped the governor at the dockside for his departure on the Royal Yacht Britannia
HMY Britannia
Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia is the former Royal Yacht of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. She was the 83rd such vessel since the restoration of King Charles II in 1660. She is the second Royal yacht to bear the name, the first being the famous racing cutter built for The Prince of Wales...
on the night of the handover to China, these vehicles were removed by a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
transport ship, RFA Sir Percivale (L3036)
RFA Sir Percivale (L3036)
RFA Sir Percivale is a Round Table class landing ship logistics. She originally entered British Army service in 1968, managed for the Ministry of Transport by British India Steam Navigation Company, but was taken over by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary along with the other members of the class in 1970...
. The car did not have license plate, instead bearing an image of St Edward's Crown on the front and rear bumpers.
Other senior government officials, including the Chief Secretary, Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong is the head of and the most senior judge in the Hong Kong judiciary. The position is second only to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong in the Hong Kong order of precedence...
and Commissioner of Police, are each assigned a Volkswagen Phaeton
Volkswagen Phaeton
The Volkswagen Phaeton is a full-size luxury sedan/saloon manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen, and is described by Volkswagen as their "premium class" vehicle...
.
Iceland
The President of IcelandPresident of Iceland
The President of Iceland is Iceland's elected head of state. The president is elected to a four-year term by universal adult suffrage and has limited powers. The president is not the head of government; the Prime Minister of Iceland is the head of government. There have been five presidents since...
, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, is driven by a chauffeur in a Lexus LS
Lexus LS
The Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan that serves as the flagship model of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. Four generations of the sedan have been produced, all equipped with V8 engines and rear-wheel drive, although since 2006 all-wheel drive, hybrid, and long-wheelbase variants have also...
600hL with the license plate of "1."
For special occasions the president also uses a 1942 Packard.
India
The President of IndiaPresident of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
travels in a Mercedes Benz S600 (W221) Pullman Guard. It's a custom-built, heavily armored limousine which meets the requirements of the highest protection class VR6/VR7. The armor is designed to protect against military rifle shots. It also offers resistance against fragments from hand grenades and explosives.
The Prime Minister
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
uses the B7-level
EN 1063
EN 1063, or CEN 1063, is a security glazing standard created by the European Committee for Standardization for measuring the protective strength of bullet-resistant glass...
armored BMW 7 Series High Security saloons. It's escorted by the SPG
Special Protection Group
The Special Protection Group is the executive protection agency of the Government of India. It is responsible for the protection of the Prime Minister of India, other top officials, and their immediate families. The force was established in 1985 after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. It is one...
in the BMW X5 Security Plus which are a permanent part of the Prime Minister's convoy.
Earlier, Hindustan Motors
Hindustan Motors
Hindustan Motors is an automobile manufacturer from India. It is part of the Birla Technical Services industrial group. The company was the largest car manufacturer in India before the rise of Maruti Udyog....
' Ambassador was used as the official state car for all purposes. It was up-armored and modified considerably for the use by the President and the Prime Minister.
Indonesia
The President of IndonesiaPresident of Indonesia
The President of the Republic of Indonesia is the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Indonesia.The first president was Sukarno and the current president is Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.- Sukarno era :...
is driven in one of two black, armored 2008 Mercedes-Benz S600L
Mercedes-Benz W221
The Mercedes-Benz W221 is a chassis code of S-Class, the successor of Mercedes-Benz W220.The vehicle was unveiled in 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show.-Styling:The W221 S-Class' exterior styling is distinctly different to the W220...
W221 models, bearing the license plates "RI 1" (Republic of Indonesia One). The President rides in one vehicle, while the other is commonly used as a decoy. The Vice President
Vice President of Indonesia
The Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia is the first in the line of succession in the Republic of Indonesia.-History of the office:The Indonesian Vice Presidency was established during the formulation of the 1945 constitution by the Researching Body for the Preparation of the Indonesian...
is driven in a similar car, bearing the "RI 2" (Republic of Indonesia Two) license plate.
The previous official car, two black, armored 1994 Mercedes-Benz S600L
Mercedes-Benz W140
The Mercedes-Benz W140 was a series of flagship vehicles manufactured by the German automotive company Mercedes-Benz. The car premiered at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1991, with the first examples rolling off the production line on August 6, 1991. Short and long wheelbase sedans were offered...
W140 is now used as a backup vehicle. Two black BMW X5
BMW X5
The BMW X5 is a luxury crossover SUV introduced in 1999 as the first generation E53. It was BMW's first SUV also known as "Four-by-Four" in the UK. It features all-wheel drive which is branded as the "X" drive system and is available with either manual or automatic transmission...
is also available for use, notably during the Jakarta floods of 2007
2007 Jakarta flood
The 2007 Jakarta flood was a major flood in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia and affected several other areas around the city, such as West Java and Banten. The flood, beginning on February 2, 2007 was a result of heavy rain, deforestation in areas south of the city, and waterways clogged with...
.
The President's motorcade is accompanied by security personnel in Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a long one of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short...
, BMW X5
BMW X5
The BMW X5 is a luxury crossover SUV introduced in 1999 as the first generation E53. It was BMW's first SUV also known as "Four-by-Four" in the UK. It features all-wheel drive which is branded as the "X" drive system and is available with either manual or automatic transmission...
, Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
models, sometimes also accompanied by a number of Toyota Camry
Toyota Aurion
The Toyota Aurion is a mid-size car produced by Toyota in Australia and parts of Asia since 2006. The Aurion, given the model designation XV40 is essentially a Toyota Camry with revised front- and rear-end treatment, along with changes to the interior...
, Nissan Patrol
Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol is a four-wheel drive vehicle manufactured by Nissan in Japan since 1951. In Japan since 1980, it has been known as the Nissan Safari. The Patrol is available in Australasia, Central and South America, South Africa, parts of Southeast Asia and Western Europe as well as Iran and...
and Ford Expedition
Ford Expedition
The Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV built by the Ford Motor Company. Introduced in 1997 as a replacement to the Ford Bronco, it was previously slotted between the smaller Ford Explorer and the larger Ford Excursion, but as of the 2005 model year, it is Ford's largest and last truck-based,...
models carrying his entourage.
A Volkswagen Caravelle and a Toyota Alphard
Toyota Alphard
The Toyota Alphard is a luxury MPV produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota since 2002. It is available as a seven or eight-seater with 2.4 and 3.0 litre gasoline engines in 3 different model lines - Alphard G, Alphard V, and the Alphard Hybrid, which uses the 2.4 litre engine along with an...
is also present in the motorcade, carrying his security guards. The motorcade is escorted by either a number of Mazda6, Mitsubishi Galant
Mitsubishi Galant
The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...
, or Ford Focus
Ford Focus
The Ford Focus is a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company since 1998. Ford began sales of the Focus to Europe in July 1998 and in North America during 1999 for the 2000 model year....
police cars and also police motorcycle.
Cabinet ministers
Cabinet of Indonesia
The cabinet of Indonesia is the council of ministers appointed by the president. Indonesia has seen dozens of cabinets since independence in 1945, although during the New Order most cabinets retained unchanged for five years at a time...
are driven in black Toyota Crown
Toyota Crown
The Toyota Crown is a line of full-size luxury sedans by Toyota. The range was primarily available in Japan and some other Asian countries, originally designed to serve as a taxi...
vehicles, escorted by security guards in black Nissan X-Trail
Nissan X-Trail
The Nissan X-Trail is a compact crossover SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan since 2001. It was one of Nissan's first crossover SUVs and was released about the same time as several other companies competing car-based compact SUVs including the Ford Escape and its Mazda Tribute sibling,...
cars, while members of the parliament
People's Consultative Assembly
The People's Consultative Assembly is the legislative branch in Indonesia's political system. It is composed of the members of the People's Representative Council and the Regional Representative Council. Before 2004, and the amendments to the 1945 Constitution, the MPR was the highest governing...
are given either Toyota Fortuner
Toyota Fortuner
The Toyota Fortuner, also known as the Toyota SW4, is a medium-sized SUV based on the Toyota Hilux. Originally assembled only in Thailand, but later also in Indonesia and other countries, the Fortuner is built on the well-established platform of the Toyota Hilux pickup truck. It features three...
or Toyota Kijang Innova models without security escort.
Governors of various provinces in Indonesia are usually given Toyota Camry
Toyota Aurion
The Toyota Aurion is a mid-size car produced by Toyota in Australia and parts of Asia since 2006. The Aurion, given the model designation XV40 is essentially a Toyota Camry with revised front- and rear-end treatment, along with changes to the interior...
vehicles as their official car, although some provinces such as DKI Jakarta use the Volvo S80
Volvo S80
The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive saloon/sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, and was introduced in 1998 to take the place of the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 saloons in the model range. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most Volvo models, it...
.
Iraq
The Iraqi President uses a BMW E67 760 Li escorted by Nissan PatrolNissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol is a four-wheel drive vehicle manufactured by Nissan in Japan since 1951. In Japan since 1980, it has been known as the Nissan Safari. The Patrol is available in Australasia, Central and South America, South Africa, parts of Southeast Asia and Western Europe as well as Iran and...
models. The Prime Minister uses an armoured Chevy Tahoe along with a Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
and Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
.
While in power, Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
normally traveled in a Mercedes-Benz W126
Mercedes-Benz W126
The Mercedes-Benz W126 is a series of flagship vehicles manufactured by German automotive marque Mercedes-Benz. Premiering in September 1979 as the successor to the earlier W116 line, the W126 was the second generation of the Mercedes-Benz flagship to officially bear the S-Class name referring to...
, and also bought a large fleet of luxury cars for himself and his family. Ironically, some were classic American cars, many from the era of Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
of whom Saddam Hussein was an admirer.
Ireland
The official state car in Ireland is a 1947 Rolls-Royce Silver WraithRolls-Royce Silver Wraith
For information on the Silver Wraith II, see Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.The Silver Wraith was the first post-war Rolls-Royce model and was made at the Crewe factory from 1946 to 1959....
. Douglas Hyde
Douglas Hyde
Douglas Hyde , known as An Craoibhín Aoibhinn , was an Irish scholar of the Irish language who served as the first President of Ireland from 1938 to 1945...
, the first president of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
was provided with a state car, but his near fatal stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
early into his term of office meant that he rarely travelled in public. When he retired in 1945 the Irish state decided that his successor, Seán T. O'Kelly
Sean T. O'Kelly
Seán Thomas O'Kelly was the second President of Ireland . He was a member of Dáil Éireann from 1918 until his election as President. During this time he served as Minister for Local Government and Minister for Finance...
, needed a special state vehicle for formal occasions.
The daily transport of the president of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
and the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
are un-armoured Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
S-Class saloons W221. The vehicles are driven by armed Gardaí (special branch police force). The Taoiseach and his Government Ministers usually sit in the passenger seat of their official cars. The presidential motorcade is led by a garda patrol car, then the presidential limo (with Irish flag and State Harp flag) followed by one or two unmarked garda cars usually BMW 5 Series
BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its sixth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
. The presidential fleet also includes an Audi A6
Audi A6
The Audi A6 is an executive car marketed by the German automaker Audi AG, now in its fourth generation. As the successor to the Audi 100, the A6 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany – and is available in saloon, and wagon configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant.All generations...
and a Volvo S80
Volvo S80
The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive saloon/sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, and was introduced in 1998 to take the place of the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 saloons in the model range. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most Volvo models, it...
. The Garda Traffic Corp also provide motorcycle escort around the motorcade. When the President or Taoiseach visit Northern Ireland they are driven in bulletproof SUVs.
Israel
The Prime Minister of IsraelPrime Minister of Israel
The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
uses a fleet of Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
s, Audi A8
Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
and Volvo S80
Volvo S80
The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive saloon/sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, and was introduced in 1998 to take the place of the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 saloons in the model range. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most Volvo models, it...
. The President of Israel
President of Israel
The President of the State of Israel is the head of state of Israel. The position is largely an apolitical ceremonial figurehead role, with the real executive power lying in the hands of the Prime Minister. The current president is Shimon Peres who took office on 15 July 2007...
uses a Volvo
Volvo Cars
Volvo Car Corporation, or Volvo Personvagnar AB, is a Swedish automobile manufacturer founded in 1927, in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Volvo was originally formed as a subsidiary company to the ball bearing maker SKF. When Volvo AB was introduced on the Swedish...
stretch limousine and Audi A8
Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
.
Italy
Giovanni Gronchi
Giovanni Gronchi was a Christian Democratic Italian politician who became the third President of the Italian Republic in 1955, after Luigi Einaudi...
, personally ordered four custom-built Lancia
Lancia
Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. The company has a long history of producing distinctive cars and also has a strong rally heritage. Some modern Lancias are seen as presenting a more...
Flaminia
Lancia Flaminia
The Lancia Flaminia is a luxury car from the Italian automaker, Lancia, built from 1957 to 1970. It was Lancia's flagship model at that time, replacing the Aurelia. It was available throughout its lifetime as saloon, coupé and cabriolet. The Flaminia coupé and cabriolet were coachbuilt cars with...
limousines for a state visit by Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in 1961. The cars, all of which are landaulettes, were designed by Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
and based on an extended wheelbase from the standard saloon. Two of the cars are still in service today for state occasions.
Sandro Pertini drove a Maserati Quattroporte III during his tenure.
The current presidential car is an armoured Maserati Quattroporte complete with Italian flags, while the prime minister uses a similar vehicle. The government fleet also includes Audi A6 and A8, Lancia Thesis
Lancia Thesis
The Lancia Thesis is an executive car produced by Italian automaker Lancia between 2002 and 2009. It was available with naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines ranging between 2.0 and 3.2 litres, in both straight-5 or V6 configurations. Its appearance was based on the 1999 Lancia Dialogos...
and Lancia Thesis Stola S85 (limousine), BMW E60 and E65, Mercedes-Benz W211
Mercedes-Benz W211
The Mercedes-Benz W211 is a mid-size luxury car–executive car which was produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz from 2002 to 2009, under the E-Class model names. The W211 models replaced the W210 E-Class models and were superseded by the Mercedes-Benz W212 in 2009...
, W212
Mercedes-Benz W212
The Mercedes-Benz W212 is a sedan sold as the ninth-generation E-Class, replacing the previous W211 model. C207 is the chassis code for the related E-Class Coupe, a replacement for the CLK-class coupe and cabriolet...
and W221
Mercedes-Benz W221
The Mercedes-Benz W221 is a chassis code of S-Class, the successor of Mercedes-Benz W220.The vehicle was unveiled in 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show.-Styling:The W221 S-Class' exterior styling is distinctly different to the W220...
, Alfa Romeo 159
Alfa Romeo 159
The Alfa Romeo 159 is a compact executive car produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo between 2005 and 2011. The 159 was introduced in production form at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show as a replacement for the successful Alfa Romeo 156. The 159 uses the GM/Fiat Premium platform, shared with...
and 166
Alfa Romeo 166
The Alfa Romeo 166 is an executive car that was produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 1998 and 2007.The car was designed by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo under the control of Walter de'Silva, and was facelifted in 2003.- History :...
models.
Jamaica
The Governor-GeneralGovernor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
is driven in a Mercedes-Benz S600 bearing the Jamaican flag and the flag of that office. Its license plate is "GG1". The Prime Minister of Jamaica
Prime Minister of Jamaica
The Prime Minister of Jamaica is Jamaica's head of government, currently Andrew Holness. Andrew Holness was elected as the new leader of the governing Jamaica Labour Party and succeeded Bruce Golding to become Jamaica's ninth Prime Minister on 23 October 2011...
is driven in an unmarked dark green Mercedes Benz C300 .The Prime Minister's car uses a civilian license plate. It is unknown if these cars are armoured..
Japan
The official state car currently used by the Emperor of JapanEmperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
and the Empress of Japan
Imperial House of Japan
The , also referred to as the Imperial Family or the Yamato Dynasty, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the emperor is the symbol of the state and unity of the people...
is a specially prepared Toyota Century Royal, a one-off $500,000 custom car. Custom built by Toyota, it stretches around 20 feet in length and 6.5 feet across, with extra amenities such as bulletproofing
Armored car (VIP)
A civilian armored car is a security vehicle which made by replacing the windows of a standard vehicle with bulletproof glass and inserting layers of armor plate into the body panels...
and a granite entryway. The emperor was previously driven in a Nissan Prince Royal
Nissan Prince Royal
The Nissan Prince Royal is a limousine made for the Imperial Household of Japan.-History:The Japanese auto industry was expanding rapidly in the early 1960s, and the Imperial Household Agency sought a Japanese auto manufacturer to produce a suitable car for the Emperor of Japan...
(1967–2008), Cadillac Series 75
Cadillac Series 70
The Series 70 was one of Cadillac's full-size V8-powered cars produced from the 1930s through 1970s. It replaced the 1935 355-D as the company's mainstream car just as the much less expensive Series 60 was introduced. The Series 67 was similar to the Series 75 but produced on a longer wheelbase ...
(1951–1970), Mercedes-Benz 770 W07 Series
Mercedes-Benz 770
The Mercedes-Benz 770, also known as the Großer Mercedes was a luxury automobile built by Mercedes-Benz from 1930 to 1943. It is probably best known from archival footage of high-ranking Nazi officials before and during World War II, including Adolf Hitler and Hermann Göring.-Series I - W07 :The...
(1932–1968), Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost refers both to a car model and to one specific car from that series.Originally named the "40/50 h.p." the chassis was originally produced at Royce's Manchester works, before moving to Derby in July 1908 and also, between 1921 and 1926, in Springfield, Massachusetts....
(1921–1936), Daimler
Daimler Motor Company
The Daimler Motor Company Limited was an independent British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in London by H J Lawson in 1896, which set up its manufacturing base in Coventry. The right to the use of the name Daimler had been purchased simultaneously from Gottlieb Daimler and Daimler Motoren...
(1913–1927). From 1935 to 1963, the royal household also possessed a fleet of five 1935 Packard Eights, one of which was Emperor Hirohito's personal car during that period.
The Prime Minister of Japan
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
travels in a Lexus LS 600h L, the official transport for the head of government, or a regular Toyota Century
Toyota Century
The Toyota Century is a large four-door limousine produced mainly for the Japanese market, serving as Toyota's flagship car. Production of the Century began in 1967 and the model received only minor changes until a redesign in 1997. The Century derived its name from the 100th anniversary of the...
escorted by a police motorcade which comprises numerous Toyota Celsiors.
Kenya
The President of the Republic of Kenya travels in an armoured Mercedes-Benz Pullman S600 with the Kenyan Coat-of-Arms instead of the licence plate. He also has a large fleet of vehicles including an armoured BMW 7 series, armoured Range Rover Vogue, armoured Toyota Landcruiser and several other Mercedes-Benz's at his disposal. Additionally, he has an open top military Land Rover 109 for state functions with licence plates CIC (Commander In Chief). His escort includes several Mercedes-Benz E-classes, BMW 5 series, a Range Rover, Toyota Landcruisers and an ambulance. Cabinet ministers are supplied with Volkswagen Passats and toyota Landcruisers in addition to other vehicles in the ministerial car pool. The Prime Minister is equipped with similar vehicles to the president; Mercedes-benz limousines, Range Rovers and Landcruisers, however, he has a substantially smaller escort.Kosovo
The presidential car of KosovoKosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
is a specially prepared, heavily armored, black Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
, with licence plates 000-KS-001 or 1Z-001-01 (the new official licence plates of the Republic of Kosovo), escorted by support vehicles including, but not limited to, 5 other Chevy Suburban's, BMW 5 Series (E60), Audi A8
Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
, Volkswagen Touareg
Volkswagen Touareg
The Volkswagen Touareg is a mid-size crossover SUV produced by German automaker Volkswagen since 2002. The vehicle was named after the Tuareg people, a Berber-speaking group in North Africa...
.
The vehicle features bulletproof windows, state-of-the-art protection systems, a stowable desk, and a gas-proof chamber for defense against gas attacks.
However, the current President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga
Atifete Jahjaga
Atifete Jahjaga is the fourth and current President of Kosovo. She is the first female, the first non-partisan candidate, and the youngest to be elected to the office. She is also the first female head of state in modern Balkans...
does not use the Chevy's. She uses heavily armoured Audi a8
Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
for her trips throughout the country, escorted by an Audi a4
Audi A4
The first generation Audi A4 debuted in 1994, with production starting November 1994. It was built on the Volkswagen Group B5 platform, which it shared with the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat . It had a front-mounted longitudinal engine and front-wheel drive...
, Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
's and of course police support vehicles.
The speaker of the Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
also uses heavily armoured Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
v8 with licence plates 000-ks-002 or 2Z-001-01 (the new official licence plates of the Republic of Kosovo).
The Prime Minister of Kosovo
Prime Minister of Kosovo
The Prime Minister of Kosovo is Head of Government of the disputed Republic of Kosovo .The Prime Minister and the Government of Kosovo, which he or she heads, are responsible for their actions to the Assembly of Kosovo, of which they must all be members...
travels in a bulletproof BMW X5 (E70)
BMW X5 (E70)
The BMW E70 is the development name for the current X5 Sports Activity Vehicle . It replaced the BMW X5 in November 2006. It is manufactured alongside the new, 2008 BMW X6 at BMW's Greer, South Carolina plant in the USA and BMW's facility in Toluca, Mexico.-Design:The new generation BMW X5 is ...
or Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a range of executive-size cars manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in various engine and body configurations. The E initially stood for Einspritzmotor, ; a new feature in volume production vehicles at the time that the E-Class first appeared, with the E as a suffix to the...
with licence plates 000-KS-003 or 3Z-001-01(the new official licence plates of the Republic of Kosovo).
The president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
, the speaker of the parliament, the prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, and all members of the cabinet are escorted by BMW R900RT police motorcycle
Police motorcycle
A police motorcycle is a motorcycle used by various police forces and departments. They may be custom designed to meet the requirements unique of a particular use. A police motorcycle is often called a "motor" by police officers in the United States...
s.
The foreign dignitaries are mostly driven in VW Touareg, Mercedes-Benz W221
Mercedes-Benz W221
The Mercedes-Benz W221 is a chassis code of S-Class, the successor of Mercedes-Benz W220.The vehicle was unveiled in 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show.-Styling:The W221 S-Class' exterior styling is distinctly different to the W220...
, BMW 7-series, Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
. They are escorted by the Secret Service and by the BMW R900RT police motorcycle
Police motorcycle
A police motorcycle is a motorcycle used by various police forces and departments. They may be custom designed to meet the requirements unique of a particular use. A police motorcycle is often called a "motor" by police officers in the United States...
s.
Kuwait
The Emir of Kuwait uses a BMW 7-series or Mercedes-Benz S-ClassMercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
on a daily basis. His motorcade consists of three identical cars escorted by Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
s and marked police vehicles. For state occasions, he uses a Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Motors
Rolls-Royce Motors was created from the de-merger of the Rolls-Royce car business from Rolls-Royce Limited in 1973. The original Rolls-Royce Limited had been nationalised in 1971 due to the financial collapse of the company, caused in part by the development of the RB211 jet engine...
.
Laos
The daily transport of the president of Laos is a Toyota CrownToyota Crown
The Toyota Crown is a line of full-size luxury sedans by Toyota. The range was primarily available in Japan and some other Asian countries, originally designed to serve as a taxi...
. Prime Minister official cars include Mercedes Vito and Toyota Crown
Toyota Crown
The Toyota Crown is a line of full-size luxury sedans by Toyota. The range was primarily available in Japan and some other Asian countries, originally designed to serve as a taxi...
, while Politburo members travel in Audi A6
Audi A6
The Audi A6 is an executive car marketed by the German automaker Audi AG, now in its fourth generation. As the successor to the Audi 100, the A6 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany – and is available in saloon, and wagon configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant.All generations...
(C6).
Cabinet ministers and vice minister official cars is Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
(XV40) and Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
respectively. Visiting heads of state or government are chauffeured in Toyota Crown
Toyota Crown
The Toyota Crown is a line of full-size luxury sedans by Toyota. The range was primarily available in Japan and some other Asian countries, originally designed to serve as a taxi...
.
Latvia
The President of Latvia travels in a Mercedes-Benz S-ClassMercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
, with the coat of arms of Latvia
Coat of arms of Latvia
The Latvian national coat of arms was formed after the proclamation of an independent Republic of Latvia on November 18, 1918, and was officially adopted on June 16, 1921. It was especially created for its independent statehood...
as the number plate and front mounted Latvian flag.
Most of Latvian Parliament members use Audi A8
Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
, but also Volvo S80
Volvo S80
The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive saloon/sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, and was introduced in 1998 to take the place of the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 saloons in the model range. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most Volvo models, it...
and other luxury sedans are in use.
Liberia
The current President of Liberia is driven in a black Mercedes-Benz W220Mercedes-Benz W220
The Mercedes-Benz W220 was a series of flagship sedans which constituted the Mercedes-Benz S-Class during the early-to-mid 2000's. Development for the W220 S-Class started in 1992, with the final design being approved in 1996 spanning a total of 38 months. The completed prototypes were presented in...
S-class. The presidential car is often escorted by several Nissan SUVs carrying security personnel. Previous presidents such as Charles Taylor and Samuel Doe
Samuel Doe
Samuel Kanyon Doe was the 21st President of Liberia, serving from 1986 until his assassination in 1990. He had previously served as Chairman of the People's Redemption Council from 1980 to 1986. He was the first indigenous head of state in Liberian history.Doe was a part of a rural tribe in inland...
were also driven in Mercedes-Benz. Some claim that Doe has purchased over 60 luxury Mercedes, which cost over US$ 60,000 each.
Royal heads of states
The current Yang di-Pertuan AgongYang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
(the elected King of Malaysia) most commonly travels in a bulletproof stretched red Bentley Arnage
Bentley Arnage
The Bentley Arnage is a large luxury car produced by Bentley Motors in Crewe, England from 1998 to 2009. The Arnage, and its Rolls-Royce-branded sibling, the Silver Seraph, were introduced in the Spring of 1998, and were the first entirely new designs for the two marques since 1980.Another break...
, a dark blue Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005)
The Bentley Continental Flying Spur is a four-door variant of the Bentley Continental GT coupé. The Bentley Continental Flying Spur was introduced in 2005....
, or dark blue Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
(for Her Royal Highness) bearing the Royal emblem as the license plate.
All royal heads of states in the nation are also transported in official/get-around cars bearing their respective royal emblems;
common choices include Rolls Royce Phantoms and Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
, BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
and Maybach 62.
Federal and state governments
Under guidelines of Malaysia's automotive policies, cars for use by federal and state governments are required to be of national makes (primarily Proton and PeroduaPerodua
The ' , usually abbreviated to Perodua , is Malaysia's second largest automobile manufacturer after Proton. It was established in 1992 and launched their first car, the Perodua Kancil in August 1994. 'M2’ was refers to the codename which was used when the project to establish Perodua was still Top...
). The Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
has historically used a Proton Chancellor bearing the license plate Chancellor 13, although he has also been driven in a BMW 740Li
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
bearing the license plate Perdana Menteri (Prime Minister). He is also sometimes being driven around in a black Proton Perdana Executive
Proton Perdana
The Proton Perdana is an intermediate-size automobile produced by Proton. It is a badge engineered version of the seventh-generation Mitsubishi Eterna. Perdana is a Malay word for "Prime".- Perdana SEi :...
, a stretched mid-size sedan larger than the Proton Chancellor, also bearing a license plate with the number "13". His car is usually escorted by traffic police outriders as well as Volvo XC90
Volvo XC90
The Volvo XC90 is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV produced by Volvo Cars since it was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show 2002. It is based on the P2 platform, shared with the first generation Volvo S80 and other large Volvo cars...
security cars.
Lower ranking government officials typically travel in Proton Perdanas. Like the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers and state governments were obligated to use Proton Perdana Executives. The only exception is the Chief Minister of Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
, Abdul Taib Mahmud
Abdul Taib Mahmud
Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud is the fourth and current Chief Minister of Sarawak. He is also the state Financial Minister and Planning and Resource Management Minister. Taib is the President of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu , which is part of the Barisan Nasional coalition...
, who is driven in a bulletproof Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow bearing Ketua Menteri Sarawak (Chief Minister of Sarawak) plates. The Mercedes S-Class and the BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
are also commonly seen as optional cars transporting Chief Ministers. In July 2008, claims of unreliability were brought forward against the Perdanas by the Terengganu
Terengganu
Terengganu is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Iman...
state government, which opted to replace its fleet of Proton Perdanas with Mercedes-Benz E200K
Mercedes-Benz W211
The Mercedes-Benz W211 is a mid-size luxury car–executive car which was produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz from 2002 to 2009, under the E-Class model names. The W211 models replaced the W210 E-Class models and were superseded by the Mercedes-Benz W212 in 2009...
as the Perdanas were prone to breakdowns, but later considered auctioning the cars away. The Perak state government followed suit in December 2008 by purchasing 16 Toyota Camry
Toyota Aurion
The Toyota Aurion is a mid-size car produced by Toyota in Australia and parts of Asia since 2006. The Aurion, given the model designation XV40 is essentially a Toyota Camry with revised front- and rear-end treatment, along with changes to the interior...
s to replace its fleet of Perdanas, and recently the state of Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
has also purchased 12 Volvo S80
Volvo S80
The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive saloon/sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, and was introduced in 1998 to take the place of the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 saloons in the model range. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most Volvo models, it...
s, but the Perdana's will still be in use by lower ranked officials.
Mexico
The PresidentPresident of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
and the First Lady
First Lady of Mexico
First Lady of Mexico is the unofficial title of the wife of the President of Mexico.The post is highly ceremonial and in fact once caused severe controversy when it was thought that the First Lady took too much involvement in their husband's post....
have available for their use an official fleet of 15 to 30 armoured Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
vehicles, managed by the Estado Mayor Presidencial
Estado Mayor Presidencial
The Estado Mayor Presidencial — EMP is the institution charged with protecting and safeguarding the President of Mexico and the First Lady of Mexico. It is described in its regulations as a techno-military organism and an administrative unit of the Presidency of the Republic of Mexico in...
.
Mauritius
The Prime Minister of The Republic of Mauritius uses an armored BMW 7 SeriesBMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
on a daily basis. He is escorted by a decoy BMW 7 Series, several BMW 5 Series
BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its sixth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
and five police motorcycles. The President of the Republic of Mauritius uses a Mercedes S600. He is escorted by a decoy S600 and two police motorcycles.
Morocco
The King of Morocco, Muhammad VI Normally, when inside Morocco he uses his Mercedes 600 PullmanMercedes-Benz 600
The Mercedes-Benz 600 is a large luxury automobile offered in several variants worldwide. Introduced in September 1963, it had very few competitors, these being Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Cadillac Fleetwood 75, the stretched Lehmann-Peterson Lincoln, and the Crown Imperial Ghia...
. The royal fleet also includes Range Rover
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
models (when he goes to mountainous places only), Mercedes-Benz S500 and various Lexus
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide, and has...
models. One BMW 5-series, which travels in the King's motorcade, contains a communications jammer. An ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
is always present in the royal motorcade, which is usually escorted by police motorcycles.
The Prime Minister of Morocco is driven in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
like all other ministers. The King also has a personal garage, which consists of a lot of sports cars, including three Laraki Fulgura
Fulgura
Fulgura is the name of the first Moroccan supercar. It was originally designed and produced in Casablanca, Morocco. It was entirely conceived and manufactured by Laraki group....
models, and an Aston Martin DB7
Aston Martin DB7
The Aston Martin DB7 is a grand tourer which was produced by Aston Martin from September 1994 to December 2004. The grand tourer was available either as a coupé or a convertible. The prototype was complete by November 1992, and debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 1993, the car was styled by...
.
Monaco
Albert II, Prince of MonacoAlbert II, Prince of Monaco
Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the ruler of the Principality of Monaco. He is the son of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly...
acquired a Lexus LS 600h hybrid sedan, making it one of his official transports. In addition he owns a Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
and Lexus RX 400h
Lexus RX 400h
The Lexus RX is the second generation of the Lexus RX series of crossover SUVs that was sold by Lexus from 2003 to 2009. First introduced in 2003 at the North American International Auto Show, the initial RX 330 models went on sale later that year...
, and has also made use of a vintage Bentley
Bentley
Bentley Motors Limited is a British manufacturer of automobiles founded on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley known as W.O. Bentley or just "W O". Bentley had been previously known for his range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later...
. He also owns a Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce (car)
This a list of Rolls-Royce motor cars and includes vehicles produced by:*Rolls-Royce Limited *Rolls-Royce Motors , which was owned by Vickers between 1980 and 1998, and after that by Volkswagen...
and a Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
, and has recently purchased a BMW Hydrogen 7
BMW Hydrogen 7
The BMW Hydrogen 7 is a limited production hydrogen vehicle built by German automobile manufacturer BMW. The car is based on BMW’s traditional gasoline powered 7-series line of vehicles, and more specifically the 760Li...
.
Mongolia
President of MongoliaPresident of Mongolia
The President of Mongolia is the head of state of Mongolia. The Constitution of Mongolia implements a parliamentary system, so while much of the President's role is ceremonial, he or she does wield significant political power.-Election:...
uses a Mercedes Benz S-Class with number plate 0001 and 0002 with Mongolian National Symbol on the regular road and uses a Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
as an off road vehicle.
Montenegro
The Prime Minister of MontenegroPrime Minister of Montenegro
The Prime Minister of Montenegro , is the head of the Government of Montenegro. The role of the Prime Minister is to direct the work of the Government, and to submit to the Parliament the Government's Program, including a list of proposed ministers...
and senior state officials of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
use a fleet of Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
limousines, notably the Audi A8
Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
models, and lower ranked officials travel in Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a range of executive-size cars manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in various engine and body configurations. The E initially stood for Einspritzmotor, ; a new feature in volume production vehicles at the time that the E-Class first appeared, with the E as a suffix to the...
models.
Nepal
Nepal's First Hon. President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav uses a Mercedes Benz W210 E-Class for is daily or personal use while the national emblem embedded car is a full armored Jaguar (stretched).It is used by his excellency during the important ceremonies.Royal Family
The first car to be owned by the DutchNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
royal family
Monarchy of the Netherlands
The Netherlands has been an independent monarchy since 16 March 1815, and has been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau since.-Constitutional role and position of the monarch:...
was a 1908 Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
, purchased by Prince Hendrik
Hendrik of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin , later Prince Henry of the Netherlands, was prince consort of the Netherlands as the husband of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands...
. In the years that followed it would be joined by nine royal limousines from the Amsterdam-based carriage maker Spijker
Spyker
Spyker was a Dutch car manufacturer, started in 1880 by coachbuilders Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker, but to be able to market the brand better in foreign countries, in 1903 the 'ij' was changed into 'y'...
. Between 1925 and the late 1950s, the royal limousines were supplied by Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
, after which the royal household switched to the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
. However in 1957 a customized Royce Silver Wraith
Royal Dutch State Limousine
The Rolls Royce Silver Wraith Limousine State Landaulette was the former official state car of the head of state Queen Juliana of the Netherlands until 1979.- Origins :...
was commissioned by Queen Juliana and delivered in 1958.
The current official royal limousine is a stretched Volvo S80
Volvo S80
The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive saloon/sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, and was introduced in 1998 to take the place of the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 saloons in the model range. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most Volvo models, it...
model, although other members of the royal family use different cars. Visiting heads of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
are chauffeured in a stretched Lincoln Continental. Other cars include a Mercedes-Benz 500
Mercedes-Benz 500
Mercedes-Benz has sold a number of automobiles with the "500" model name, and the nomenclature usually refers the 5.0L V8 engine under the hood....
, 2 non-stretched Volvo S80s, and - strangely enough - a lime-green Ford C-max.
Most royal automobiles are painted in blue, with standard Dutch number plates, as well as a plate beginning with AA, a special designation for the royal household. The royal vehicles are armored. Other vehicles used by the royal family is an armored Audi, BMW or a Mercedes.
Dutch Government
The Prime Minister of the NetherlandsPrime Minister of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government...
uses a Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
. Previously, a BMW 7-Series was used. Both cars are owned by the Royal and Diplomatic Security Service (DKDB).
New Zealand
The Governor-GeneralGovernor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
travels in a Jaguar XJ Sovereign
Jaguar XJ
Jaguar XJ is the designation that has been used for a series of luxury saloon cars sold under the British Jaguar marque. The first XJ was launched in 1968 and the designation has been used for successive Jaguar flagship models since then. The original model was the last Jaguar saloon to have had...
. Before 1996, he or she traveled in a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
The Phantom VI was an ultra-exclusive Rolls-Royce model made from 1968-1991.Based on the Phantom V, the Phantom VI had a re-styled facia and was powered by an engine derived from the current Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow...
. During official travel it is the only vehicle in the country not required to use standard number plates. The official flag of the Governor General is flown on the car in which he/she is travelling, The Queen of New Zealand has her own flag, which is used when she is travelling in the country, but there are no specific cars reserved for her use.
The Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
used to travel in one of two cars, one being a Holden Statesman/Caprice sedan or Ford Fairlane
Ford Fairlane (Australia)
The Ford Fairlane and LTD are full-size luxury vehicles that were produced in a series of models by Ford Australia between 1959 and 2007....
, followed by the other vehicle containing their security detail (usually a VY or VE Holden Commodore SV6). But as of December 2007, New Zealand has bought a fleet (34) of BMW 730Ld limousines as its new fleet of ministerial cars which were commissioned in 2008. This was the first time in recent decades that the government had not gone with Australian Ford or Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
vehicles. The Prime Minister's Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
based car has the number plate CR1 and all other cars in the fleet for Ministers have number plates starting in the CR series. The estimated purchase price per unit is NZ$ 69,900 In 2011 the Government upgraded the ministerial fleet with 34 new BMW 730d limousines. The retiring fleet is being kept on for use during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Nicaragua
The President of NicaraguaNicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
uses a Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a long one of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short...
.
In the past the Somoza family used several luxury cars during their 43 years in the presidency.
A Mercedes-Benz Type 300
Mercedes-Benz Type 300
The Mercedes-Benz Type 300 were the company's largest and most-prestigious models throughout the 1950s...
was used to for official ceremonies. Others were Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
and Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
limousines.
Nigeria
The President of NigeriaPresident of Nigeria
The President of Nigeria is the Head of State and head of the national executive. Officially styled President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan.-History:On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained...
and other high profile government officials use a black armoured Peugeot 607
Peugeot 607
The Peugeot 607 was an executive car produced by the French automaker Peugeot from September 1999 to June 2010.The 607, along with the smaller 407, was superseded by the 508 in early 2011.-History:...
adorned with the Nigerian flag. Other luxury cars like the BMW 730Ld and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
all armoured are used.
The President travels in a motorcade of 30 cars and ten escort motorcycles along with police cars. Foreign visitors also travel along in the president's car.
Norway
The King of NorwayNorwegian monarchy
The Norwegian monarch or Sovereign is the head of state of Norway, which is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government...
, Harald V
Harald V of Norway
Harald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
, uses a Lexus LS 600h limousine, acquired in early 2008. The Royal Family of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
also uses a 2007 Audi A8
Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
, an E65 and E67 BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
and a stretched Volvo S80
Volvo S80
The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive saloon/sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, and was introduced in 1998 to take the place of the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 saloons in the model range. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most Volvo models, it...
. The BMWs are often driven by The King of Norway, Harald V
Harald V of Norway
Harald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
, and The Queen of Norway, Sonja
Queen Sonja of Norway
Queen Sonja of Norway is the wife of King Harald V of Norway.-Prior to marriage:Sonja was born in Oslo on 4 July 1937 as the daughter of clothing merchant Karl August Haraldsen and Dagny Ulrichsen .Queen Sonja grew up in the district of Vinderen in Oslo and completed her lower secondary schooling...
, themselves.
The Prime Minister of Norway
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
uses an armored BMW 750Li. The previous BMW 7-Series was not used since its weight exceeded certain regulations. The Prime Minister of Norway
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
are escorted by various BMW X5
BMW X5 (E70)
The BMW E70 is the development name for the current X5 Sports Activity Vehicle . It replaced the BMW X5 in November 2006. It is manufactured alongside the new, 2008 BMW X6 at BMW's Greer, South Carolina plant in the USA and BMW's facility in Toluca, Mexico.-Design:The new generation BMW X5 is ...
s and Audi A6s driven by SMK Agents and The Norwegian Police Service
Norwegian Police Service
The Norwegian Police Service is the official police force in Norway which are run by the Minister of Justice and Police. The department consists of 27 regional areas and seven national special forces. The department has about 11,000 employees....
.
The various government officials are usually being transported in an Audi A6, a Mercedes E-Class or a Volvo S80.
Oman
Sultan Qaboos is seen driving around the country with the following cars:- 2 Maroon colored 2007 model Mercedes S-Class pullman.
- 4 Red colored 2003 model Mercedes S600 pullman.
- 4 Maybach 62.
In addition to this, his Garage contains:
- Several Rolls RoyceRolls-Royce (car)This a list of Rolls-Royce motor cars and includes vehicles produced by:*Rolls-Royce Limited *Rolls-Royce Motors , which was owned by Vickers between 1980 and 1998, and after that by Volkswagen...
s. - A line of LamborghiniLamborghiniAutomobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
s. - A couple of FerrariFerrariFerrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
s and Aston MartinAston MartinAston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
s. - More than 20 MercedesMercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
. - Up to 10 BMWBMWBayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
s.
Pakistan
The PresidentPresident of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
and Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
both have armoured
Armored car (VIP)
A civilian armored car is a security vehicle which made by replacing the windows of a standard vehicle with bulletproof glass and inserting layers of armor plate into the body panels...
Mercedes-Benz W221
Mercedes-Benz W221
The Mercedes-Benz W221 is a chassis code of S-Class, the successor of Mercedes-Benz W220.The vehicle was unveiled in 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show.-Styling:The W221 S-Class' exterior styling is distinctly different to the W220...
cars. Both the PM and the President travel in a motorcade with up to seven decoy components, each component exactly identical – one traffic police car escorting the flag bearing armored Mercedes followed by a Toyota Land Cruiser with electronic jamming devices, and two other Land Cruisers of guards. The head and tail of the overall motorcade is usually protected by many rapid response police vehicles. The motorcade is escorted by at least half a dozen traffic motorbikes, and is trailed by a military ambulance and a firefighting truck. When the PM and President travel out of city, the motorcades are additionally escorted by further vehicles of the local police. The convoy comprises 20 to 100 vehicles depending on the location and destination.
The Government of Pakistan
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
has also arranged for armoured cars equipped with jamming devices for the Senate Chairman
Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan
The current Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan is Farooq Naek since 12 March, 2009.The first Chairman of the Senate was Justice Khan Habibullah Khan Marwat.-History:...
and Speaker of the National Assembly. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry also operates up to ten of these identical armoured cars which are used to transport VIPs and visiting Heads of States. Politicians are also seen in Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
s. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
was assassinated in a Toyota Land Cruiser while campaigning for re-election.
Panama
The President of Panama uses two armored Toyota Land Cruiser 200.The Ford ExplorerFord Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a sport-utility vehicle sold in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990, as a replacement for the smaller but related Ford Bronco II. It is manufactured in Chicago, Illinois...
is used for the Institutional Protection Service (S.P.I.) as escort presidential motorcade
Motorcade
A motorcade is a procession of vehicles. The term motorcade was coined by Lyle Abbot , and is formed after cavalcade on the false notion that "-cade" was a suffix meaning "procession"...
and 400cc motorcycles. Motorcades of high-security involve as much as 10 vehicles. The vice President uses a blue armored Lincoln Navigator
Lincoln Navigator
The Lincoln Navigator is a full-size luxury SUV built by the Ford Motor Company for its luxury division, Lincoln. Introduced as a 1998 model, production began May 14, 1997 with sales beginning in August. The Navigator was Lincoln's first SUV as well as its first four-wheel drive capable vehicle...
.
Philippines
The President of the PhilippinesPresident of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
uses two black, heavily armored Mercedes Benz S600 Guard
Mercedes-Benz W221
The Mercedes-Benz W221 is a chassis code of S-Class, the successor of Mercedes-Benz W220.The vehicle was unveiled in 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show.-Styling:The W221 S-Class' exterior styling is distinctly different to the W220...
s, with one acting as a decoy vehicle. In motorcades/convoys, the President is escorted by the Presidential Security Group (PSG)
Presidential Security Group
- External links :*...
using a number of black Nissan Patrol
Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol is a four-wheel drive vehicle manufactured by Nissan in Japan since 1951. In Japan since 1980, it has been known as the Nissan Safari. The Patrol is available in Australasia, Central and South America, South Africa, parts of Southeast Asia and Western Europe as well as Iran and...
and white Toyota Fortuner
Toyota Fortuner
The Toyota Fortuner, also known as the Toyota SW4, is a medium-sized SUV based on the Toyota Hilux. Originally assembled only in Thailand, but later also in Indonesia and other countries, the Fortuner is built on the well-established platform of the Toyota Hilux pickup truck. It features three...
SUVs and a combination of the following vehicles: Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
, Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
, Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
, BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
and Police 400cc motorcycles. High-security motorcades involve as much as 40 vehicles, but the number of security vehicles really depend on the president's destination. The presidential cars are designated and registered with the plate number "1" and bears the Flag of the Philippines and the Presidential Standard
Flag of the President of the Philippines
The Flag of the President of the Philippines consists of the presidential coat of arms on a blue background. While having the same design as the presidential seal since 1947, the flag has a separate history, and the designs on the flag and seal have at different times influenced each other...
. Occasionally, the President boards a bulletproof Toyota Coaster
Toyota Coaster
The Toyota Coaster is a minibus produced by Toyota Motor Corporation. It was introduced in 1969, with the second generation introduced in 1982, followed by the third generation in 1993...
or Mitsubishi Rosa during provincial trips. The Vice President of the Philippines on the other hand uses a Mercedes Benz W140 S-Class, also backed up by the Presidential Security Group.
The current president, Noynoy Aquino, prefers to use his own personal vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser 200
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
over the black Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard
Mercedes-Benz W221
The Mercedes-Benz W221 is a chassis code of S-Class, the successor of Mercedes-Benz W220.The vehicle was unveiled in 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show.-Styling:The W221 S-Class' exterior styling is distinctly different to the W220...
limousines.
Other cars used by Office of the President in previous decades include a 1937 Chrysler Airflow
Chrysler Airflow
The Chrysler Airflow is an automobile produced by the Chrysler Corporation from 1934-1937. The Airflow was the first full-size American production car to use streamlining as a basis for building a sleeker automobile, one less susceptible to air resistance...
, which served as the country's very first Presidential vehicle/limousine for Manuel L. Quezon
Manuel L. Quezon
Manuel Luis Quezón y Molina served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. He was the first Filipino to head a government of the Philippines...
.
Portugal
The President of PortugalPresident of Portugal
Portugal has been a republic since 1910, and since that time the head of state has been the president, whose official title is President of the Portuguese Republic ....
is usually driven in an armored Mercedes S600. The President has been seen in a BMW, what seems to have been a BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
.
The Prime Minister of Portugal
Prime Minister of Portugal
Prime Minister is the current title of the chief of the Portuguese Government. As chief executive, the Prime Minister coordinates the action of ministers, representing the Government from the other organs of state, accountable to Parliament and keeps the President informed...
is driven in a VW Phaeton.
Romania
The President of RomaniaPresident of Romania
The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
rides in his Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
, escorted by a motorcade consisting of black BMW 5-Series (E60) models. He is also often seen driving his personal Dacia Duster
Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster is the first crossover SUV developed by the Romanian automaker Automobile Dacia. Officially revealed on 8 December 2009, it became available in Europe from 18 March 2010.-Design:...
.
Russia
The President of Russia is usually seen in an armoured Mercedes S-Class stretched limousine. The first such model, a W140 variant, was purchased by Boris YeltsinBoris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
and has recently been superseded by a W221 model. The presidential motorcade will usually be escorted by police motorcycle outriders and a series of support vehicles including, but not limited to, the Mercedes G-Class, Mercedes E-Class, standard S-Class models, BMW 5-Series and Volkswagen Caravelle.
Under the USSR, the General Secretary of the Communist Party was always driven in a Russian-built ZIL-41047
ZIL-41047
ZIL-41047 is a limousine built by ZIL of Russia. Production of ZIL models ceased in 2002 due to their previous customer base turning to more modern Western vehicles.-Description:...
, escorted by Chaika models. Two of the Zil limousines are still maintained in the Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
garage and occasionally seen in use.
Singapore
The President of SingaporePresident of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
alternates between a 2010 Mercedes Benz S350L
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
and a 2001 Lexus LS430
Lexus LS
The Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan that serves as the flagship model of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. Four generations of the sedan have been produced, all equipped with V8 engines and rear-wheel drive, although since 2006 all-wheel drive, hybrid, and long-wheelbase variants have also...
, both of which are white like all of Singapore's previous state cars. When travelling to official events such as the National Day Parade
National Day Parade
The Singapore National Day Parade is a national ceremony in Singapore that, as its name implies, includes a parade on Singapore's National Day on August 9, in commemoration of Singapore's independence that is usually held at the Padang , the National Stadium, various decentalized venues all over...
, the Presidential crest is displayed in place of a license plate, while normally it carries the plate SEP1.
The Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Singapore
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...
usually travels in a white, short-wheelbase Mercedes Benz S280
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
, with civilian plates. The Prime Minister's Office keeps four official cars, all white Mercedes, ready for state occasions and visiting foreign dignitaries.
The President, Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament, are the only political appointees to be given official cars and not given car grants unlike other members of the cabinet
Cabinet of Singapore
The Cabinet of Singapore forms the Government of Singapore together with the President of Singapore. It is led by the Prime Minister of Singapore who is the head of government...
.
Slovakia
The Slovakian president uses various cars from the Office for the Protection of Constitutional Officials and Diplomatic Missions which have more than 230 cars for the president, prime minister, ministers and state visits. For states visits the president uses an armored Mercedes Benz Pullman, for normal driving one of the 230 cars (armored Audi A8Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
, Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
, BMW 7-Series, Volkswagen Phaeton
Volkswagen Phaeton
The Volkswagen Phaeton is a full-size luxury sedan/saloon manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen, and is described by Volkswagen as their "premium class" vehicle...
, Range Rover
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
, BMW X5
BMW X5
The BMW X5 is a luxury crossover SUV introduced in 1999 as the first generation E53. It was BMW's first SUV also known as "Four-by-Four" in the UK. It features all-wheel drive which is branded as the "X" drive system and is available with either manual or automatic transmission...
, Škoda Superb
Škoda Superb
The Škoda Superb is a large family car primarily built by the Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto as its flagship car. The versions produced from 2001 to 2008 are based on the platform of the Volkswagen Passat, but are elongated by , and shares its major mechanicals and powertrain with the Passat,...
and other vehicles.
Slovenia
Slovenian president Danilo TürkDanilo Türk
- Early life :Türk was born in a lower middle class family in Maribor, Slovenia . His father died when he was a child. He attended the prestigious II. Gymnasium High school in Maribor. In 1971 he enrolled to the University of Ljubljana where he studied law...
uses a Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
for driving in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, and a BMW X5
BMW X5
The BMW X5 is a luxury crossover SUV introduced in 1999 as the first generation E53. It was BMW's first SUV also known as "Four-by-Four" in the UK. It features all-wheel drive which is branded as the "X" drive system and is available with either manual or automatic transmission...
or Audi A8
Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short- and...
(extra-stretched version) for longer distances.
South Africa
The President of South AfricaPresident of South Africa
The President of the Republic of South Africa is the head of state and head of government under South Africa's Constitution. From 1961 to 1994, the head of state was called the State President....
is driven in an armored BMW 7-Series or on occasion a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. A similar car is used by the Deputy President of South Africa
Deputy President of South Africa
The Deputy President of South Africa is the acting President of South Africa when the President is outside the country's borders, unable to fulfill the duties of the office, or when the Presidency is vacant. The Deputy President is also a member of the National Assembly and the Cabinet...
.
The presidential motorcade is composed of numerous Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a long one of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short...
, Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a Mid-size SUV produced by the Jeep division of Chrysler. While some other SUVs were manufactured with body on frame construction, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has always used a unibody chassis.- Development :...
, Range Rover
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
and Mercedes-Benz ML-Class models, followed by a number of Mercedes-Benz V-Class and police cars.
South Korea
The PresidentPresident of South Korea
The President of the Republic of Korea is, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, chief executive of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of the Republic of Korea...
often rides in an armoured BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
which was purchased in 2005. Previously, a 2002-model Mercedes-Benz W220
Mercedes-Benz W220
The Mercedes-Benz W220 was a series of flagship sedans which constituted the Mercedes-Benz S-Class during the early-to-mid 2000's. Development for the W220 S-Class started in 1992, with the final design being approved in 1996 spanning a total of 38 months. The completed prototypes were presented in...
was used, also used during peace talks with North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. The presidential motorcade is escorted by Chevrolet Tahoe
Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe are full-size SUVs from General Motors. Chevrolet and GMC sold two different-sized SUVs under their Blazer/Jimmy model names through the early 1990s. This situation changed when GMC rebadged the full-size Jimmy as the Yukon in 1992...
, Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
and Ford Excursion
Ford Excursion
The Ford Excursion is a full-size sport utility vehicle that was produced by the Ford Motor Company between model years 2000 and 2005 . Based on the Super Duty pickup truck platform, it served as Ford's largest SUV in its lineup during the tenure of its production and mainly competed against the...
, also with several identical Mercedes-Benz W220
Mercedes-Benz W220
The Mercedes-Benz W220 was a series of flagship sedans which constituted the Mercedes-Benz S-Class during the early-to-mid 2000's. Development for the W220 S-Class started in 1992, with the final design being approved in 1996 spanning a total of 38 months. The completed prototypes were presented in...
s.
Recently, his administration has purchased 3 armoured Hyundai Equus
Hyundai Equus
The Hyundai Equus , known as the Hyundai Centennial in the Middle East, is an upscale full-size luxury car that serves as the flagship model of Hyundai Motor Company worldwide, named after the Latin word for "horse". The Hyundai Equus is the largest and most expensive sedan in the company's lineup...
limousines, as these are the first vehicles manufactured in South Korea to be secured from the factory at a level approaching that of BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
or Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
factory limousines.
Royal Family
The Spanish Royal FamilySpanish Royal Family
The Royal Family of the Kingdom of Spain consists of the current king, Juan Carlos, his spouse, Queen Sofia of Spain and their direct descendants. The Spanish royal family belongs to the House of Borbón...
has one of the largest fleets of cars in Spain. Various armoured vehicles are used by the family, including Audi A6
Audi A6
The Audi A6 is an executive car marketed by the German automaker Audi AG, now in its fourth generation. As the successor to the Audi 100, the A6 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany – and is available in saloon, and wagon configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant.All generations...
s, Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
models and the exclusive Rolls-Royce Phantom IV
Rolls-Royce Phantom IV
The Phantom IV is the most exclusive Rolls-Royce model ever built.Only 18 were made between 1950 and 1956, exclusively for royalty and heads of state...
. Only 18 of the latter were ever built, all being reserved for royals or heads of state. Three were ordered by General Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
for his personal use and are now available for use by the Spanish Royal Family
Spanish Royal Family
The Royal Family of the Kingdom of Spain consists of the current king, Juan Carlos, his spouse, Queen Sofia of Spain and their direct descendants. The Spanish royal family belongs to the House of Borbón...
. One is a landaulette and the other two are limousines. A special order was placed on the marriage of the current Prince of Asturias
Prince of Asturias
Prince of Asturias is the historical title given to the heir to the Spanish throne. It was also the title under the earlier Kingdom of Castile. The current Prince of Asturias is Felipe, son of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofía...
when a Phantom IV was rebuilt to include armoured protection. Modifications included heavy-duty air conditioning and a special glazed armoured bubble to protect the rear passengers. The modifications cost over €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
360,000.
The Spanish Royal Family
Spanish Royal Family
The Royal Family of the Kingdom of Spain consists of the current king, Juan Carlos, his spouse, Queen Sofia of Spain and their direct descendants. The Spanish royal family belongs to the House of Borbón...
currently uses mainly Mercedes-Benz S600 models for its official transport, with BMW 5-Series (2007–2008) cars as escort vehicles. The motorcade is composed of around 15 cars. The personal car of the King Juan Carlos I is an especially customised Maybach 57 S.
Spanish Government
The Prime Minister of SpainPrime Minister of Spain
The President of the Government of Spain , sometimes known in English as the Prime Minister of Spain, is the head of Government of Spain. The current office is established under the Constitution of 1978...
and Deputy Prime Minister
First Vice President of the Government (Spain)
The First Vice President of the Government of Spain , usually known in English as the First Deputy Prime Minister of Spain, is the second in command to the Prime Minister of Spain, filling in for him when he is absent or incapable of exercising his power. The person for the post is usually...
of Spain both use Audi vehicles. The premier's Audi A8L was purchased in March 2005 shortly after retiring the former A8 used by PM José María Aznar
José María Aznar
José María Alfredo Aznar López served as the Prime Minister of Spain from 1996 to 2004. He is on the board of directors of News Corporation.-Early life:...
. The vehicle, which then cost the Spanish government well over 380,000 Euros (aprox. $520,000 USD), is said to be equipped with the latest features, runflats, level B7+ armouring
EN 1063
EN 1063, or CEN 1063, is a security glazing standard created by the European Committee for Standardization for measuring the protective strength of bullet-resistant glass...
, satellite communications and various special items that are kept secret by the Spanish officials. The fleet has been renovated and now includes various new Audi A8L, Mercedes-Benz S600 and A6s, although the president, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . He was elected for two terms as Prime Minister of Spain, in the 2004 and 2008 general elections. On 2 April 2011 he announced he will not stand for re-election in 2012...
wanted to swap those cars for the hybrid Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
to save fuel oil.
Sri Lanka
The President of Sri LankaPresident of Sri Lanka
The President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the elected head of state and the head of government. The President is a dominant political figure in Sri Lanka. The office was created in 1978 but has grown so powerful there have been calls to restrict or even eliminate its power...
is driven in an armored Mercedes-Benz W221
Mercedes-Benz W221
The Mercedes-Benz W221 is a chassis code of S-Class, the successor of Mercedes-Benz W220.The vehicle was unveiled in 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show.-Styling:The W221 S-Class' exterior styling is distinctly different to the W220...
, armored BMW 7 Series escorted by a number of Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
and Nissan Patrol
Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol is a four-wheel drive vehicle manufactured by Nissan in Japan since 1951. In Japan since 1980, it has been known as the Nissan Safari. The Patrol is available in Australasia, Central and South America, South Africa, parts of Southeast Asia and Western Europe as well as Iran and...
cars. On special occasions, such as travelling on dirt roads, the President would use armored BMW X5
BMW X5
The BMW X5 is a luxury crossover SUV introduced in 1999 as the first generation E53. It was BMW's first SUV also known as "Four-by-Four" in the UK. It features all-wheel drive which is branded as the "X" drive system and is available with either manual or automatic transmission...
armored Ford Everest
Ford Everest
The Ford Everest is a midsize SUV produced by Ford since 2003. Everest is a five-door wagon variant of the Ford Ranger four-door utility. The Everest is known as the Ford Endeavour in the Indian market....
, armored Land Rover Defender.
Sweden
The current official car of the King of Sweden is a stretched Volvo S80Volvo S80
The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive saloon/sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, and was introduced in 1998 to take the place of the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 saloons in the model range. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most Volvo models, it...
, escorted by the Swedish Security Service
Swedish Security Service
The Swedish Security Service , former name Rikspolisstyrelsens säkerhetsavdelning , is the security service of Sweden, belonging to the Swedish National Police Board....
in BMW X5
BMW X5
The BMW X5 is a luxury crossover SUV introduced in 1999 as the first generation E53. It was BMW's first SUV also known as "Four-by-Four" in the UK. It features all-wheel drive which is branded as the "X" drive system and is available with either manual or automatic transmission...
, BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a range of executive-size cars manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in various engine and body configurations. The E initially stood for Einspritzmotor, ; a new feature in volume production vehicles at the time that the E-Class first appeared, with the E as a suffix to the...
models.
The current prime minister
Prime Minister of Sweden
The Prime Minister is the head of government in the Kingdom of Sweden. Before the creation of the office of a Prime Minister in 1876, Sweden did not have a head of government separate from its head of state, namely the King, in whom the executive authority was vested...
is driven in armored BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
, also escorted by the Swedish Security Service
Swedish Security Service
The Swedish Security Service , former name Rikspolisstyrelsens säkerhetsavdelning , is the security service of Sweden, belonging to the Swedish National Police Board....
.
Republic of China (Taiwan)
The President of the Republic of ChinaPresident of the Republic of China
The President of the Republic of China is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of China . The Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, to govern all of China...
has historically travelled in Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
sedans, reflecting the ROC's close relations with the United States. Former President Chiang Kai Shek's two armored Cadillacs are on exhibition in the Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is an American memorial built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The architect was Henry Bacon, the sculptor of the main statue was Daniel Chester French, and the painter of the interior...
-like National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a famous monument, landmark and tourist attractions erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. It is located in Taipei, Republic of China ....
in the capital city of Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
. The current president Ma Ying-jeou
Ma Ying-jeou
Ma Ying-jeou is the 12th term and current President of the Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan, and the Chairman of the Kuomintang Party, also known as the Chinese Nationalist Party. He formerly served as Justice Minister from 1993 to 1996, Mayor of Taipei from 1998 to 2006, and Chairman...
uses an armored Cadillac DeVille
Cadillac DeVille
The de Ville was originally a trim level and later a model of General Motors' Cadillac marque. The first car to bear the name was the 1949 Coupe de Ville, a prestige trim level of the Series 62 luxury coupe. The last model to be formally known as a de Ville was the 2005 Cadillac Deville, a...
. However, his predecessor Chen Shui-bian discontinued use of a Cadillac, preferring a Lincoln in his first term and a BMW 7-Series in his second term.
Royal Family
HM King Bhumibol AdulyadejBhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...
travels in a Maybach 62 limousine, with police motorcycle outriders, and an escort of Mercedes S-Class (W221) and BMW 5-Series (F10) police cars. Other members of the royal family usually travel in different models. Most of them are Mercedes S-Class (W221). The other models including Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
The Phantom VI was an ultra-exclusive Rolls-Royce model made from 1968-1991.Based on the Phantom V, the Phantom VI had a re-styled facia and was powered by an engine derived from the current Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow...
, a Rolls-Royce Silver Spur stretch limousine, Rolls-Royce Silver Spur Park Ward, Lexus LS
Lexus LS
The Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan that serves as the flagship model of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. Four generations of the sedan have been produced, all equipped with V8 engines and rear-wheel drive, although since 2006 all-wheel drive, hybrid, and long-wheelbase variants have also...
460L, BMW 7-Series (E38
BMW E38
The BMW E38 model was the basis for the 1995 through 2001 BMW 7 Series automobiles. Developed from early 1988 to 1994, it was unveiled in the summer of 1994, replacing the BMW E32 that September and itself was replaced by the BMW E65/E66 for the 2002 model year.The E38 models were offered with...
& E66), BMW 5-Series (E60), Cadillac DTS
Cadillac DTS
The Cadillac DTS is a full-size luxury sedan produced by General Motors, an American automobile company. The DTS replaced the Cadillac DeVille as General Motors' largest luxury car for the 2006 model year...
stretch limousine, Volkswagen Caravelle TDi and Mercedes E55 AMG (W211). All of the royal cars are in Ivory colour.
From the fleet of royal vehicles, apart from the fleet of Mercedes S-Class some royal family member usually travel in different type of cars.
HM Queen Sirikit mostly travels by Cadillac DTS
Cadillac DTS
The Cadillac DTS is a full-size luxury sedan produced by General Motors, an American automobile company. The DTS replaced the Cadillac DeVille as General Motors' largest luxury car for the 2006 model year...
stretch limousine and Cadillac Fleetwood
Cadillac Fleetwood
Lawrence P. Fisher was the Fisher brother most closely involved with Cadillac in its early years. In 1916 he joined the Fisher Body Company which had been formed by two of his brothers in 1908. Larry was one of four of the seven Fisher brothers who brought Fisher Body Corporation under the General...
stretch limousine.
HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
Maha Vajiralongkorn
Somdet Phra Boromma-orasathirat Chao Fa Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayammakutratchakuman is the only son of Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, and Queen Sirikit...
usually travels by Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce (car)
This a list of Rolls-Royce motor cars and includes vehicles produced by:*Rolls-Royce Limited *Rolls-Royce Motors , which was owned by Vickers between 1980 and 1998, and after that by Volkswagen...
cars. These Rolls-Royce's used to be HM the King's official cars. These Rolls-Royce collection including Rolls-Royce Phantom V
Rolls-Royce Phantom V
The Phantom V was a large, ultra-exclusive four-door saloon made by Rolls-Royce from 1959 to 1968.Based on the Silver Cloud II, it shared a V8 engine and General Motors Hydramatic automatic gearbox with its smaller sibling. Rolls-Royce assembled the cars' chassis and drivetrains with bodies made to...
, Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
The Phantom VI was an ultra-exclusive Rolls-Royce model made from 1968-1991.Based on the Phantom V, the Phantom VI had a re-styled facia and was powered by an engine derived from the current Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow...
, Rolls-Royce Silver Spur stretch limousine.
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn usually travels by Lexus LS
Lexus LS
The Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan that serves as the flagship model of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. Four generations of the sedan have been produced, all equipped with V8 engines and rear-wheel drive, although since 2006 all-wheel drive, hybrid, and long-wheelbase variants have also...
460L, BMW 760Li (E66) and Mercedes S-Class (W221). For unofficial journeys, she also travels by Toyota Granvia
Toyota Granvia
The Toyota Granvia is a large MPV produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota. Available with seven- and eight-seater configurations, it is based on the Hi Ace Powervan. Sales of the Granvia started in Japan in 1995.It has been sold in Europe and Australia and at different destinations in Asia...
.
Other royal family members mostly travel by Mercedes S-Class (W221) for official journeys.
HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
Maha Vajiralongkorn
Somdet Phra Boromma-orasathirat Chao Fa Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayammakutratchakuman is the only son of Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, and Queen Sirikit...
also has a large collection of cars, including many classic models. Many vehicles formerly belonged to his father, and a few modern cars such as Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
, BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
, Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
, Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
, Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
etc.
HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha sometimes drives herself in a red Mini Cooper S and a lime Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
in the motorcade.
There are also royal cars in convertible form for the royal ceremonies, such as a Rolls-Royce Corniche
Rolls-Royce Corniche
The Corniche was Rolls-Royce's coupé and convertible version of the Silver Shadow produced between 1971 and 1996. The Corniche was named "Silver Shadow Mulliner Park Ward two door fixed head coupé " from 1966 until 1971 when the Corniche name was applied. The exterior design was by John Polwhele...
and a Cadillac STS
Cadillac STS
The STS is a mid-size luxury sports sedan / executive car manufactured and sold by Cadillac. It is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission with performance algorithm shifting and driver shift control.- Origins :...
(The hard top was transformed into convertible top).
On important official Royal journeys, there are a group of more than 20 official cars in the motorcade including: Mercedes S-Class (W220), Mercedes E-class (W210&W211), BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
(E38), BMW 5 Series
BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its sixth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
(E39 and E60), Honda Accord
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
, Nissan Cefiro
Nissan Cefiro
The Nissan Cefiro is a intermediate-size automobile range sold in Japan and other countries. The 1989 model was introduced initially as a 4-door sedan, however a wagon was later produced. A large proportion were equipped with automatic transmissions....
and Nissan Teana
Nissan Teana
The Nissan Teana is a luxury mid-size car produced by Nissan of Japan, introduced in 2003. It is exported as the Nissan Maxima and Nissan Cefiro to certain markets, not to be confused with the Nissan Maxima sold in North America with which it shares a platform .It is also exported to Mauritius as...
. These cars are painted in ruby red.
For unimportant official Royal journeys, the cars in the motorcade are a group of about 5 cars including: BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
(E38), BMW 5 Series
BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its sixth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
(E39 & E60), Mercedes S-Class (W221 & W220), Mercedes E-class (W210 & W211) and Nissan Teana
Nissan Teana
The Nissan Teana is a luxury mid-size car produced by Nissan of Japan, introduced in 2003. It is exported as the Nissan Maxima and Nissan Cefiro to certain markets, not to be confused with the Nissan Maxima sold in North America with which it shares a platform .It is also exported to Mauritius as...
. These cars are all in ivory colour. Some of these cars are the ex-royal vehicles.
The Bureau of The Royal Household also has its own vehicles. These cars are mostly Nissan Teana
Nissan Teana
The Nissan Teana is a luxury mid-size car produced by Nissan of Japan, introduced in 2003. It is exported as the Nissan Maxima and Nissan Cefiro to certain markets, not to be confused with the Nissan Maxima sold in North America with which it shares a platform .It is also exported to Mauritius as...
, BMW 5 Series
BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its sixth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
(E39 and E60) and Mercedes E-class (W210 and W211). These cars are painted in cream.
Thai Government
The official cars for Prime Minister, Abhisit VejjajivaAbhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva , , ; born Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva; 3 August 1964 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is a Thai politician who was the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011 and is the current leader of the Democrat Party...
are armored black Mercedes Benz S (S600L-W220), black BMW 730LI (E66) and a black armored Range Rover
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
. However, Vejjajiva is also using his own BMW 5-Series ( 523I-E39).
The Prime Minister's motorcade is led by two police cars, followed by the Security Services in silver Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is a, mid-size four-wheel drive vehicle in the Toyota Land Cruiser range produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. The Prado is one of the smaller vehicles in the range...
and midnight blue Mercedes Benz E-class Estate (W211).
Since the 14th ASEAN Summit
ASEAN Summit
The ASEAN Summit is an annual meeting held by the member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in relation to economic, and cultural development of Southeast Asian countries....
in Hua Hin
Hua Hin
Hua Hin is a famous beach resort town in Thailand, in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some 200 km south of Bangkok. It has a population of 84,883 in an area of 911 km², and is one of eight districts of the Prachuap Khiri Khan province.Hua Hin is closely associated with the...
. The government has bought the fleet of armored black Range Rover
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
to be official car of the Prime Minister and also for the guest of official state visits.
Trinidad and Tobago
The President and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago presently use, amongst a vast collection of vehicles, a black, armoured, 2008 Toyota CrownToyota Crown
The Toyota Crown is a line of full-size luxury sedans by Toyota. The range was primarily available in Japan and some other Asian countries, originally designed to serve as a taxi...
. It carries the license plate with a gold coat of arms for the President and PM-1 for the Prime Minister. Each motorcade also includes a decoy car, two police motorcycles, two 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
s as support vehicles and a leading Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
police vehicle.
Turkey
Most senior politicians use Mercedes-Benz automobiles. The President of TurkeyPresident of Turkey
The President of Turkey is the head of state of the Republic of Turkey. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office but has some important functions...
and the Prime Minister of Turkey
Prime Minister of Turkey
The Prime Minister of the Turkey is the head of government in Turkish politics. The prime minister is the leader of a political coalition in the Turkish parliament and the leader of the cabinet....
use Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
models.
President Rauf Denktas
Rauf Denktas
Rauf Raif Denktaş is the founder and the first president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , a de facto state which is only recognized by Turkey...
of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, a state recognised only by Turkey, has a red BMW 750Li with gold crests replacing the number plate.
Ukraine
The President of UkrainePresident of Ukraine
Prior to the formation of the modern Ukrainian presidency, the previous Ukrainian head of state office was officially established in exile by Andriy Livytskyi. At first the de facto leader of nation was the president of the Central Rada at early years of the Ukrainian People's Republic, while the...
uses an armoured Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of luxury sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The classification was officially introduced in 1972 with the W116 S-Class, which succeeded previous Mercedes-Benz models dating to the mid-1950s...
and an armoured VW Phaeton Model 2011 in a V12 long Version, and for the Motorcade amoured VW Touareg by Centigon
Centigon
Centigon is today a division of the Carat Security Group but it traces its roots back to coach builders O'Gara-Hess and Eisenhardt and Sayers & Scovill....
.
Bentley State Limousine
The British royal familyHouse of Windsor
The House of Windsor is the royal house of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V by royal proclamation on the 17 July 1917, when he changed the name of his family from the German Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the English Windsor, due to the anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom...
has a long history of bespoke limousines stretching back to Daimler
Daimler Motor Company
The Daimler Motor Company Limited was an independent British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in London by H J Lawson in 1896, which set up its manufacturing base in Coventry. The right to the use of the name Daimler had been purchased simultaneously from Gottlieb Daimler and Daimler Motoren...
models owned by King Edward VII. On state occasions, Queen Elizabeth II usually travels in one of two custom-built Bentley State Limousine
Bentley State Limousine
The Bentley State Limousine is an official state car created by Bentley for Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.The vehicle's twin-turbocharged, 6.75-litre V8 engine has been modified from Bentley's Arnage R version to produce and of torque. Its maximum speed is . The...
s.
Bentley Arnage
The Bentley Arnage is a large luxury car produced by Bentley Motors in Crewe, England from 1998 to 2009. The Arnage, and its Rolls-Royce-branded sibling, the Silver Seraph, were introduced in the Spring of 1998, and were the first entirely new designs for the two marques since 1980.Another break...
floorpan, with a twin-turbocharged 6.75 litre V8 engine that produces 400 bhp (298 kW) and 616 lbf•ft (835 N•m
Newton metre
A newton metre is a unit of torque in the SI system. The symbolic form is N m or N·m, and sometimes hyphenated newton-metre...
) of torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
, giving a maximum speed of 130 mph (210 km/h). The state limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
is three feet longer than a standard Bentley Arnage, 10 inches taller and six inches wider. It is equipped with broad suicide doors, which are hinged at the rear and open almost 90 degrees. The car also has opaque rear window panels that can be removed to allow increased visibility when the occupant is attending a public event or installed for increased privacy when needed.
Other state cars
The Royal MewsRoyal Mews
A Royal Mews is a mews of the British Royal Family. In London the Royal Mews has occupied two main sites, formerly at Charing Cross, and since the 1820s at Buckingham Palace....
contains a rare Rolls-Royce Phantom IV
Rolls-Royce Phantom IV
The Phantom IV is the most exclusive Rolls-Royce model ever built.Only 18 were made between 1950 and 1956, exclusively for royalty and heads of state...
, which was purchased by Princess Elizabeth in 1950, becoming a state car upon her accession to the throne as Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. There are also two Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
The Phantom VI was an ultra-exclusive Rolls-Royce model made from 1968-1991.Based on the Phantom V, the Phantom VI had a re-styled facia and was powered by an engine derived from the current Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow...
models, including the bespoke Silver Jubilee Car, with a raised roof for enhanced visibility, presented by the British motor industry in 1977, as well as a standard model from 1987. The fleet is completed by three Daimler DS420
Daimler DS420
The Daimler DS420, popularly known as the Daimler Limousine, is a large limousine produced by Daimler Motor Company between 1968 and 1992. The vehicles are used extensively as official state cars in several countries, including by the British and Danish Royal Families...
limousines, one of which was previously owned by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother until her death in 2002, which are normally used as support vehicles. The state cars are sometimes used when the Queen is travelling abroad and are also made available for visiting heads of state and other members of the royal family on official business. Under British law
Law of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has three legal systems. English law, which applies in England and Wales, and Northern Ireland law, which applies in Northern Ireland, are based on common-law principles. Scots law, which applies in Scotland, is a pluralistic system based on civil-law principles, with common law...
, the monarch's State vehicles do not possess registration plates (although the three Daimler models do have them); but the monarch's personal vehicles and those of other members of the Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
do.
A retired 1962 Rolls-Royce Phantom V
Rolls-Royce Phantom V
The Phantom V was a large, ultra-exclusive four-door saloon made by Rolls-Royce from 1959 to 1968.Based on the Silver Cloud II, it shared a V8 engine and General Motors Hydramatic automatic gearbox with its smaller sibling. Rolls-Royce assembled the cars' chassis and drivetrains with bodies made to...
state car, as owned by both the Queen and the Queen Mother until 2002, can be seen in the purpose-built garage aboard the former Royal Yacht Britannia
HMY Britannia
Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia is the former Royal Yacht of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. She was the 83rd such vessel since the restoration of King Charles II in 1660. She is the second Royal yacht to bear the name, the first being the famous racing cutter built for The Prince of Wales...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and a state car (commonly the rarely used Phantom IV model) is usually on display at the Royal Mews
Royal Mews
A Royal Mews is a mews of the British Royal Family. In London the Royal Mews has occupied two main sites, formerly at Charing Cross, and since the 1820s at Buckingham Palace....
in Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
.
Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
uses an armoured Bentley Turbo R
Bentley Turbo R
The Bentley Turbo R was a high-performance model produced by Bentley Motors Limited. The "R" stood for "roadholding", to set it apart from its predecessor. It initially inherited the turbocharged engine from the Mulsanne Turbo and also sported a retuned suspension and wider tires on alloy wheels, a...
, Range Rover
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
, Jaguar XJ
Jaguar XJ
Jaguar XJ is the designation that has been used for a series of luxury saloon cars sold under the British Jaguar marque. The first XJ was launched in 1968 and the designation has been used for successive Jaguar flagship models since then. The original model was the last Jaguar saloon to have had...
or Audi A6
Audi A6
The Audi A6 is an executive car marketed by the German automaker Audi AG, now in its fourth generation. As the successor to the Audi 100, the A6 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany – and is available in saloon, and wagon configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant.All generations...
. On state occasions, he is often seen in the Silver Jubilee Car, which lost the designation of "Number One State Car" (the vehicle most frequently used by the Queen) following the delivery of the Bentley State Limousines. On the evening of 9 December 2010, the car was attacked by student protestors as it carried the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to the Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The couple were unhurt, but the car, which was not armoured, was spattered with paint and one of the side windows was smashed. The Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO , is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
uses a 2008 Bentley Arnage
Bentley Arnage
The Bentley Arnage is a large luxury car produced by Bentley Motors in Crewe, England from 1998 to 2009. The Arnage, and its Rolls-Royce-branded sibling, the Silver Seraph, were introduced in the Spring of 1998, and were the first entirely new designs for the two marques since 1980.Another break...
with a personalised number plate featuring the letters 'DOY'.
Personal vehicles of the royal family
For non-official journeys, the Queen will usually be driven in an armoured Jaguar XJJaguar XJ
Jaguar XJ is the designation that has been used for a series of luxury saloon cars sold under the British Jaguar marque. The first XJ was launched in 1968 and the designation has been used for successive Jaguar flagship models since then. The original model was the last Jaguar saloon to have had...
, similar to that used by the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
. This is escorted by the same vehicles as a state car. She also occasionally uses a Range Rover
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
, particularly for visits to rural areas and event such as county shows. On visits to Balmoral
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle is a large estate house in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is located near the village of Crathie, west of Ballater and east of Braemar. Balmoral has been one of the residences of the British Royal Family since 1852, when it was purchased by Queen Victoria and her...
and Sandringham
Sandringham House
Sandringham House is a country house on of land near the village of Sandringham in Norfolk, England. The house is privately owned by the British Royal Family and is located on the royal Sandringham Estate, which lies within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-History and current...
, as portrayed in the film, The Queen
The Queen (film)
The Queen is a 2006 British drama film directed by Stephen Frears, written by Peter Morgan, and starring Helen Mirren as the title role, HM Queen Elizabeth II...
, she has been seen at the wheel of a Land Rover Defender. The Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
owns a Land Rover Discovery
Land Rover Discovery
The Discovery was introduced into the United Kingdom in 1989. The company code-named the vehicle "Project Jay". The new model was based on the chassis and drivetrain of the more upmarket Range Rover, but with a lower price aimed at a larger market segment and intended to compete with Japanese...
and a MetroCab
Metrocab
Metrocab was a British manufacturer of taxicabs latterly based in Tamworth in operation under various owners from 1989 to 2006.-MCW:The company was created by Metro Cammell Weymann as a taxicab manufacturing enterprise producing the MCW Metrocab....
, the latter of which he uses for trips around central London. Other members of the royal family are usually driven in Audi A6
Audi A6
The Audi A6 is an executive car marketed by the German automaker Audi AG, now in its fourth generation. As the successor to the Audi 100, the A6 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany – and is available in saloon, and wagon configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant.All generations...
or Range Rover models. The Princess Royal
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
owns a Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005)
The Bentley Continental Flying Spur is a four-door variant of the Bentley Continental GT coupé. The Bentley Continental Flying Spur was introduced in 2005....
which she uses for official and private engagements [1
Aston Martin V8
The Aston Martin V8 is a two-door coupé automobile manufactured in the United Kingdom from 1969 to 1989.Aston Martin's customers had been clamouring for an eight-cylinder car for years, so Aston Martin designed a larger 2-door saloon for V8 applications. The engine was not ready, however, so in...
converted to run on biofuel made from surplus local white wine. His Jaguars, Audi and Range Rover use biodiesel made from recycled cooking oil.
British government
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
is usually driven in one of a fleet of armoured Jaguar XJ Sentinel
Jaguar XJ
Jaguar XJ is the designation that has been used for a series of luxury saloon cars sold under the British Jaguar marque. The first XJ was launched in 1968 and the designation has been used for successive Jaguar flagship models since then. The original model was the last Jaguar saloon to have had...
models, escorted by Range Rover
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
or Land Rover Discovery
Land Rover Discovery
The Discovery was introduced into the United Kingdom in 1989. The company code-named the vehicle "Project Jay". The new model was based on the chassis and drivetrain of the more upmarket Range Rover, but with a lower price aimed at a larger market segment and intended to compete with Japanese...
vehicles and police motorcycle outriders. David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
arrived at 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
following his appointment in a silver 2010 X350 model, but took delivery of his new X351 on 13 May 2010.
Since the early-1980s, when Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
switched from the Rover P5
Rover P5
The Mark II version of the P5 was introduced in 1962. It featured more power from the same 3.0 L engine and an improved suspension, while dropping the glass wind deflectors from the top of the window openings which also, on the front doors, now featured "quarterlight" windows .The most...
models that had been in use since the 1960s, all Prime Ministerial cars have been from the Jaguar XJ range of the day, or its Daimler
Daimler Motor Company
The Daimler Motor Company Limited was an independent British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in London by H J Lawson in 1896, which set up its manufacturing base in Coventry. The right to the use of the name Daimler had been purchased simultaneously from Gottlieb Daimler and Daimler Motoren...
-badged variant. For the first few months of his premiership in 2007, Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
reverted to the previous Prime Ministerial car, a navy blue (X308) model purchased in 2000, before starting to use the silver model.
The 2000 model replaced a British racing green X300 model, built for John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
, which gained international media attention when it bore Tony Blair to Buckingham Palace on the day after the 1997 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
. A British racing green
British racing green
British racing green or BRG, a colour similar to Brunswick green, hunter green, forest green or moss green , takes its name from the green international motor racing colour of Britain. Although there is still some debate as to an exact hue for BRG, currently the term is used to denote a spectrum of...
X308 took Gordon Brown to Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
on 6 April 2010 to request the dissolution of Parliament, but it was the 2000 model that took him on his last ride as Prime Minister.
All former prime ministers since 1975 have been provided with an armoured car, usually the same model as the current Prime Minister, along with police protection. Currently Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown enjoy this privilege. Blair currently uses a bespoke BMW 7-Series, which he paid for himself.
The British government maintains the Government Car and Despatch Agency
Government Car and Despatch Agency
The Government Car and Despatch Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport, responsible for providing logistics services to the United Kingdom government and wider public sector....
which provides transport for senior government officials. In December 2008, the service took delivery of a fleet of armoured BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
760Li models for use by senior dignitaries and visiting politicians. The service also uses vehicles from Jaguar, Rover
Rover Group
The Rover Group plc was the name given in 1986 to the British state-owned vehicle manufacturer previously known as British Leyland or BL. Owned by British Aerospace from 1988 to 1994, when it was sold to BMW, the Group was broken up in 2000 with the Rover and MG marques being acquired by the MG...
, Ford and Vauxhall
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
, while some ministers use Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
hybrid models.
United States
The President of the United StatesPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
travels in a heavily armored, custom-built limousine, which is often referred to as Cadillac One, or its less formal nickname of "The Beast". The vehicle is based on a GMC Topkick platform, and has the outward appearance of an enlarged Cadillac DTS
Cadillac DTS
The Cadillac DTS is a full-size luxury sedan produced by General Motors, an American automobile company. The DTS replaced the Cadillac DeVille as General Motors' largest luxury car for the 2006 model year...
limousine, with styling elements from other vehicles in the Cadillac lineup.
The vehicle was famously involved in an incident in Ireland on May 24th 2011 where it failed to clear the driveway of the U.S. embassy compound and was stopped with a loud clang as its undercarriage struck the driveway.
Unlike most other world leaders, with the occasional exception of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
and the President of Russia, the U.S. president is accompanied on all foreign and domestic trips by a full motorcade of US government vehicles, including several presidential limousines, escort vehicles and a military ambulance, all of which are transported by the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
using C-17 Globemaster III
C-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
aircraft. The US vehicles are typically complemented with coaches, police vehicles, ambulances and limousines provided by local authorities.
Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto RicoGovernor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
currently uses a Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. Ford Expedition
Ford Expedition
The Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV built by the Ford Motor Company. Introduced in 1997 as a replacement to the Ford Bronco, it was previously slotted between the smaller Ford Explorer and the larger Ford Excursion, but as of the 2005 model year, it is Ford's largest and last truck-based,...
s, Toyota Sequoia
Toyota Sequoia
The Toyota Sequoia is a full-size SUV produced by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana in Princeton, Indiana. It is derived from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck but differs in its use of an independent rear suspension. It is priced between the mid-size 4Runner and Toyota's flagship Land Cruiser...
s, and Nissan Armada
Nissan Armada
The Nissan Armada is Nissan's full-size SUV. It shares its body-on-frame F-Alpha platform with the Nissan Titan pickup truck, Nissan Xterra SUV, Nissan Frontier pickup truck, and Nissan Pathfinder SUV. An upscale version of the Armada was sold as the Infiniti QX56 from 2004 to 2010, when it...
s are available in the fleet from previous administrations. As part of the motorcade, one or two Ford Explorer
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a sport-utility vehicle sold in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990, as a replacement for the smaller but related Ford Bronco II. It is manufactured in Chicago, Illinois...
s, two white Ford Crown Victoria
Ford Crown Victoria
-1992–1994:Released in March 1991 as an early 1992 model, the Crown Victoria sedan was completely redesigned with a rounder, eight-window roofline . The redesign reduced the coefficient of drag from 0.42 to 0.34; the suspension setup was also heavily revised...
s and at least one police motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
are used. They carry standard Puerto Rico license plates, including the Governor's specialty "LGF-051" numeration.
Governor Luis Muñoz Marín
Luis Muñoz Marín
Don José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician. Regarded as the "father of modern Puerto Rico," he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Muñoz Marín was the son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, a renowned autonomist leader...
(1949–1965) used an armored Packard
Packard
Packard was an American luxury-type automobile marque built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana...
given to him by President Harry S Truman, which is on exhibition at the Muñoz Marín Foundation Library and Museum. Governor Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...
(1973–1977, 1985–1993) ordered an armored Ford station wagon for which he was severely criticized and, thus, rarely used.
Each sitting Governor has the right to change the gubernatorial fleet as he or she may see fit, for example, Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Juan Rosselló González, M.D., , is a Puerto Rican physician and politician who served as the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001...
used a Mercury Grand Marquis
Mercury Grand Marquis
The Mercury Grand Marquis was a full-size rear-wheel drive sedan sold by the Lincoln-Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company; the Grand Marquis was the flagship of the Mercury lineup. The nameplate itself had been in use since 1975 as the premium trim level of the Mercury Marquis; the Grand...
and a GMC Yukon
Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe are full-size SUVs from General Motors. Chevrolet and GMC sold two different-sized SUVs under their Blazer/Jimmy model names through the early 1990s. This situation changed when GMC rebadged the full-size Jimmy as the Yukon in 1992...
, Sila Calderón used a Ford Expedition
Ford Expedition
The Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV built by the Ford Motor Company. Introduced in 1997 as a replacement to the Ford Bronco, it was previously slotted between the smaller Ford Explorer and the larger Ford Excursion, but as of the 2005 model year, it is Ford's largest and last truck-based,...
and sometimes, for special occasions, a Buick Park Avenue
Buick Park Avenue
The Buick Park Avenue is a full-size car built by General Motors and sold by its Buick division. The nameplate was first used since 1975 as a top trim level of the Buick Electra, and the Park Avenue became a standalone model for the 1991 model year, replacing the Electra...
, while Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer. He served as the eighth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Commonwealth of the United States, from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus and a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Law,...
used Nissan Armadas. As a tradition full size cars were used but since the late 1990s, SUVs are being used.
Uruguay
The presidential state car of UruguayUruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
is an armoured 2005 Chevrolet Vectra, purchased by president
President of Uruguay
The President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay is the head of state of Uruguay. His or her rights are determined in the Constitution of Uruguay. Conforms with the Secretariat of the Presidency, the Council of Ministers and the Director of the Office of Planning and Budget, the executive branch...
Tabaré Vázquez
Tabaré Vázquez
Tabaré Ramón Vázquez Rosas is a former President of Uruguay. A physician by training, he is a member of the leftist Frente Amplo coalition . Vázquez was elected president on October 31, 2004, took office on March 1, 2005, and relinquished the office on March 1, 2010...
when his term in office began on March 1, 2005. Previously, the Uruguayan head of state traveled in a Mitsubishi Galant
Mitsubishi Galant
The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...
procured from the government's fleet of diplomatic vehicles.
As of August 2007, the presidential motor pool includes Mitsubishi Galant
Mitsubishi Galant
The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...
s, Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
s, Volkswagen Vento
Volkswagen Vento
Volkswagen Vento is a sedan car that is being manufactured by the European manufacturer Volkswagen since 2010. It is essentially a Polo with a boot, and has been developed especially for the Indian market. However, the design has none of the quirkiness as seen in its similarly-designed...
s, and Rover 75
Rover 75
The Rover 75 is an executive car produced initially by the Rover Group at Cowley, Oxfordshire, UK, and later by MG Rover at their Longbridge site in Birmingham, UK...
s.
Municipal intendants of Uruguay are transported in armored Peugeot 607
Peugeot 607
The Peugeot 607 was an executive car produced by the French automaker Peugeot from September 1999 to June 2010.The 607, along with the smaller 407, was superseded by the 508 in early 2011.-History:...
s.
Uzbekistan
The state limousines of Uzbekistan are two special ordered 2010 Range RoverRange Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
Supercharged with bulletproof windows.
Venezuela
President Hugo ChávezHugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
sometimes drives a red IKCO Samand badged Centauro, or in red or green a Tiuna
Tiuna
Cenareca Tiuna UR-53AR50, is a Venezuelan multipurpose military vehicle, presented by CENARECA, and assembled by Venezolana de Vehículos para la Defensa...
truck accompanied with some ministers or governors or mayors, depending the occasion when he travels, usually travels with a high security personnel around, with a large convoy of armored SUV conformed by Ford Explorer
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a sport-utility vehicle sold in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990, as a replacement for the smaller but related Ford Bronco II. It is manufactured in Chicago, Illinois...
, Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
, Chevrolet Tahoe
Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe are full-size SUVs from General Motors. Chevrolet and GMC sold two different-sized SUVs under their Blazer/Jimmy model names through the early 1990s. This situation changed when GMC rebadged the full-size Jimmy as the Yukon in 1992...
, Chevrolet Trailblazer
Chevrolet TrailBlazer
The Chevrolet TrailBlazer is a mid-size sport utility vehicle produced by the Chevrolet division of American automaker General Motors.On November 10th, 2011, General Motors officially revealed a second generation of the vehicle to be sold worldwide...
, Chevrolet Express
Chevrolet Express
The Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana are full-size vans from General Motors. They replaced the Chevrolet Van and GMC Vandura in 1996. The Express and Savana currently hold 44.8% of the full-size van market in the United States, just behind rival Ford's E-Series...
, Ford Expedition
Ford Expedition
The Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV built by the Ford Motor Company. Introduced in 1997 as a replacement to the Ford Bronco, it was previously slotted between the smaller Ford Explorer and the larger Ford Excursion, but as of the 2005 model year, it is Ford's largest and last truck-based,...
, Toyota 4Runner
Toyota 4Runner
The Toyota 4Runner is a mid-size SUV manufactured by Toyota and sold throughout the world from 1984 to the present. In Japan it was known as the Toyota Hilux Surf...
, Toyota Fortuner
Toyota Fortuner
The Toyota Fortuner, also known as the Toyota SW4, is a medium-sized SUV based on the Toyota Hilux. Originally assembled only in Thailand, but later also in Indonesia and other countries, the Fortuner is built on the well-established platform of the Toyota Hilux pickup truck. It features three...
, Toyota Sequoia
Toyota Sequoia
The Toyota Sequoia is a full-size SUV produced by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana in Princeton, Indiana. It is derived from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck but differs in its use of an independent rear suspension. It is priced between the mid-size 4Runner and Toyota's flagship Land Cruiser...
, Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a Mid-size SUV produced by the Jeep division of Chrysler. While some other SUVs were manufactured with body on frame construction, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has always used a unibody chassis.- Development :...
, and an ambulance in case of any emergency, plus is escorted with the Presidential Guard that uses armored Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
(80&90 Series), the transit police and the Venezuelan National Guard
Venezuelan National Guard
The Venezuelan National Guard , also called the Armed Forces of Cooperation , is one of the four components of the National Armed Forces of Venezuela. The National Guard can serve as gendarmerie, perform civil defense roles, or serve as a reserve light infantry force...
motorcycle officers have the duty to escort the motorcade and to clear up the traffic.
Another fleet of vehicles includes a Cadillac Fleetwood
Cadillac Fleetwood
Lawrence P. Fisher was the Fisher brother most closely involved with Cadillac in its early years. In 1916 he joined the Fisher Body Company which had been formed by two of his brothers in 1908. Larry was one of four of the seven Fisher brothers who brought Fisher Body Corporation under the General...
that is used for national holidays like special parades, also the president uses 3 armoured black (W211)
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a range of executive-size cars manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in various engine and body configurations. The E initially stood for Einspritzmotor, ; a new feature in volume production vehicles at the time that the E-Class first appeared, with the E as a suffix to the...
, these vehicles carries the license plate with the national emblem, but this are used for special occasions or important meetings when Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
reunites with other Presidents, another vehicle is an armored silver Lincoln Town Car
Lincoln Town Car
The Lincoln Town Car is a full-size luxury sedan that was sold by the upscale Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company; it was produced from 1981 to the 2011 model years...
that is used to shuttle the President visitors from the Simón Bolívar International Airport of Maiquetia to the Palacio de Miraflores
Palacio de Miraflores
The Palacio de Miraflores is the official workplace of the President of Venezuela. It is located on Urdaneta Avenue, Libertador Municipality in Caracas....
and vice versa.
For his vice president Elias Jaua
Elías Jaua
-External links: "", World Investment News, 11 September 2006...
is usually driven in an armored Nissan Patrol
Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol is a four-wheel drive vehicle manufactured by Nissan in Japan since 1951. In Japan since 1980, it has been known as the Nissan Safari. The Patrol is available in Australasia, Central and South America, South Africa, parts of Southeast Asia and Western Europe as well as Iran and...
with a motorcade of 4 or 5 SUV, his ministers are usually seen in armored vehicles like: Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
, Chevrolet Trailblazer
Chevrolet TrailBlazer
The Chevrolet TrailBlazer is a mid-size sport utility vehicle produced by the Chevrolet division of American automaker General Motors.On November 10th, 2011, General Motors officially revealed a second generation of the vehicle to be sold worldwide...
, Chevrolet Tahoe
Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe are full-size SUVs from General Motors. Chevrolet and GMC sold two different-sized SUVs under their Blazer/Jimmy model names through the early 1990s. This situation changed when GMC rebadged the full-size Jimmy as the Yukon in 1992...
, Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a Mid-size SUV produced by the Jeep division of Chrysler. While some other SUVs were manufactured with body on frame construction, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has always used a unibody chassis.- Development :...
, Toyota 4Runner
Toyota 4Runner
The Toyota 4Runner is a mid-size SUV manufactured by Toyota and sold throughout the world from 1984 to the present. In Japan it was known as the Toyota Hilux Surf...
, Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
, Toyota Fortuner
Toyota Fortuner
The Toyota Fortuner, also known as the Toyota SW4, is a medium-sized SUV based on the Toyota Hilux. Originally assembled only in Thailand, but later also in Indonesia and other countries, the Fortuner is built on the well-established platform of the Toyota Hilux pickup truck. It features three...
, Ford Fusion (Americas), Ford Explorer
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a sport-utility vehicle sold in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990, as a replacement for the smaller but related Ford Bronco II. It is manufactured in Chicago, Illinois...
, Ford Expedition
Ford Expedition
The Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV built by the Ford Motor Company. Introduced in 1997 as a replacement to the Ford Bronco, it was previously slotted between the smaller Ford Explorer and the larger Ford Excursion, but as of the 2005 model year, it is Ford's largest and last truck-based,...
also escorted with the Venezuelan National Guard
Venezuelan National Guard
The Venezuelan National Guard , also called the Armed Forces of Cooperation , is one of the four components of the National Armed Forces of Venezuela. The National Guard can serve as gendarmerie, perform civil defense roles, or serve as a reserve light infantry force...
officers.
The last acquisition to the fleet is a Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005)
The Bentley Continental Flying Spur is a four-door variant of the Bentley Continental GT coupé. The Bentley Continental Flying Spur was introduced in 2005....
.
Yugoslavia
The then-Yugoslav president, Marshal Josip Broz TitoJosip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
had, at his disposal, a fairly impressive collection of limousines. Amongst the luxurious limousines he used were numerous Mercedes Benz automobiles, mostly Mercedes Benz 600 Pullman models, and a 540k and 770k seized from Ante Pavelić
Ante Pavelic
Ante Pavelić was a Croatian fascist leader, revolutionary, and politician. He ruled as Poglavnik or head, of the Independent State of Croatia , a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany in Axis-occupied Yugoslavia...
after WWII, several Rolls-Royces, Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
s, Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
s and many others.
Zambia
As of July 2011 the President of Zambia is driven in an armoured Mercedes-Benz S600 PullmanMercedes-Benz W221
The Mercedes-Benz W221 is a chassis code of S-Class, the successor of Mercedes-Benz W220.The vehicle was unveiled in 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show.-Styling:The W221 S-Class' exterior styling is distinctly different to the W220...
limousine. His car is escorted by 30 officers of the Zambia Police, trained in diplomatic protection, on BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
motorcycles and in six BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. Successor to the BMW New Class, it has been produced in five different generations and in no less than five different body styles. It is BMW's best-selling model, accounting for around 30% of the...
E93 models. His motorcade also includes an ambulance at all times. For visits to rural areas the preident uses an armoured Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
100 Series.
See also
- Air transports of heads of state and government
- Royal TrainRoyal TrainA royal train is a set of carriages dedicated for the use of the monarch or other members of that particular royal family. Most monarchies with a railway system employ a set of royal carriages.-Australia:...
- Royal YachtRoyal YachtA royal yacht is a ship used by a monarch or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor the proper term is imperial yacht. Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head...
- Royal bargeRoyal bargeA royal barge is a ceremonial barge that is used by a monarch for processions and transport on a body of water.Royal barges are currently used in monarchies such as the United Kingdom, Sweden and Thailand....
- Royal and State carriages