French Presidential Vehicle

[Claude]

Anofficial state car is a vehicle used by a government to transport its head of state or head of government in an official capacity, which may also be used occasionally to transport other members of the government or visiting dignitaries from other countries. A few countries bring their own official state car for state visits to other countries, for instance, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Germany and Japan. It also may serve as an automotive symbol of the head of state and their country. An official state car must have adequate security, capability and stateliness for its duty. A limousine or other high-end vehicle is usually selected.

Due to the high security risk of the passengers, these vehicles are often heavily secured and protected. Vehicles may be armored by the manufacturer or an after-market specialist. In this article the term "armored car" invariably means a reinforced civilian vehicle, not the military vehicle. When carrying an important passenger, state vehicles may be surrounded by a motorcade consisting of police or military personnel. The vehicle's driver might also be from the law enforcement or military pool. The driver of the United States Presidential State Car is an experienced agent from the Secret Service, the British prime minister is driven by a Specialist Protection officer from the Metropolitan Police Service, and the Canadian prime minister is driven by a Protective Services officer from the RCMP.

In countries that have domestic automobile manufacturers, the government will usually commission one of the national automakers to provide a state car, or allow several to provide cars for an official state fleet. It is considered an honour for a car manufacturer to be selected to provide a state car for their respective country and a demonstration of the confidence of a government in their national industry.[1] For example, the president of the United States currently uses a Cadillac with special undisclosed security features commissioned by the United States government, built by General Motors. Historically the president also used Lincoln, manufactured by Ford Motor Company and also Chrysler vehicles having been used in the past, representing the Detroit Three of American manufacturers.

Soviet leaders used custom-built limousines made by the ZiL company, and though the Russian presidents switched to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class due to ZiL's decline after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Putin commissioned a new official state car from the national automotive establishment, which was delivered in early 2018.

The emperor of Japan uses a Toyota Century, the prime minister of Italy uses a Maserati, the prime minister of Malaysia uses a Proton Perdana, the president of the Czech Republic is driven around in a Škoda Superb, and the British monarch uses a Bentley.[1] Members of the British royal family are driven in Jaguars, though other makes may be used in other Commonwealth realms.

The president of France can choose from cars manufactured by Renault or PSA Peugeot Citron, and all major German manufacturers (Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen Group) are represented in Germany's pool of vehicles available for use by state officials. The prime minister of India uses a Land Rover Sentinel high security edition as Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by Tata Motors, an Indian automobile company though they are manufactured in the UK.

For countries without major indigenous manufacturers, an official state car may be purchased from a suitable manufacturer in a nation with strong economic and diplomatic ties. Canada typically aims to exclusively use 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. These companies have a well established and rich manufacturing history dating back to the 1920s in Ontario.

The governor-general of Australia travels in a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI limousine for ceremonial occasions, such as the State Opening of Parliament.[2] He more commonly uses a white armoured BMW 7 series 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 king is in Australia, the king's personal Australian flag is flown on the car in which he is travelling. During Queen Elizabeth II's 2011 visit to Australia, the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were driven in a Range Rover Vogue.

The official state car of the prime minister of Australia is a white armoured BMW 7 Series, supported at all times by an armoured BMW X5. Prior to 2013, vehicles in the prime ministerial fleet were white Holden Caprice and Ford Territory models.[3] The prime ministerial vehicle is also escorted by police vehicles from state and federal authorities. The prime minister's car bears the number plate C1 (meaning "Commonwealth One") and a centrally mounted Australian flag.[4] The prime ministerial car fleet operates as part of COMCAR, a division of the Australian Government's Department of Finance.[5]

In 2013, BMW was selected to provide a fleet of 7 Series High Security (F03) vehicles as part of a tender to replace the ageing armoured Holden Caprice fleet that formerly transported the Australian prime minister. The off-the-shelf replacements offered greater protection and better value for money.[6] A BAE and GM-Holden consortium also bid for the contract.[7]

The Belgian king, Philippe, uses a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or a BMW 7 Series, mostly with the number plate '1', because he is the commander in chief of the army. For his inauguration, a Mercedes-Benz 600 landaulette was used. All royal family members drive cars with only numbers.

The prime minister of Belgium uses an Audi A6. Federal government officials drive cars with number plates starting with an "A" followed by one to three numbers. Regional government officials drive cars with number plates starting with an "E" followed by one to three numbers. Members of parliament and the senate drive cars with number plates starting with a "P" followed by three numbers.

For personal use, Queen Paola of Belgium drives a Fiat 500 with diplomatic plates. Prince Laurent of Belgium is famous for his speed driving and his fast cars. There is also a Mercedes-Benz 600 and a 1965 Lincoln Continental Convertible in the royal garage. King Baudouin of Belgium ordered in the 1970s an armored De Tomaso Deauville. He had also an Aston Martin DB2/4. For their marriage in 1960, King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola used a 1955 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible, with a bulletproof bubble-top.

Governor-General of Belize Froyla Tzalam and prime minister Johnny Briceo are both driven in a Genesis EQ900 Convertible bearing the Flag of Belize and the standard of their offices. Ministers generally use Toyota Prado or Ford Excursion, bearing either government plates or civilian plates with tags.

Members of the Presidency are driven in an Audi A8 escorted by a Volkswagen Passat. President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik is driven in an armored Mercedes-Benz S-Class W 221. The rest of the government is usually driven in a Volkswagen Passat or Škoda Superb.

The ceremonial state car of the president of Brazil is a 1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith, reserved exclusively for Independence Day commemorations, state visits and the presidential inauguration. The official state car used by the president for regular transportation is a 2011-model armored version of the Ford Fusion Hybrid.[11] The car is also used as escort car for the presidential motorcade. The Fusion was first used in June 2008[12] when it replaced a 2004 Chevrolet Omega.

Since then, besides Ford Edge and Fusion Hybrid, some Ford Bronco Sport and Mitsubishi Outlander models have been used as part of agreements with the automakers. In January 2024, president Luiz Incio Lula da Silva received a BYD Tan EV from BYD Brazil's CEO, to commemorate BYD investments in the country. The car is expected to be lent for one year.[14]

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 (e.g., president of the republic, president of the Senate, defense minister, Supreme Court president, etc.).

The ceremonial state car of the sultan of Brunei is a 1992 state landaulette Rolls-Royce Phantom VI. On non-ceremonial occasions, the sultan personally drives a black Mercedes-Benz M-Class W163 ML55 AMG, usually escorted by either a Secret Service BMW E39 540i or a BMW E61 545i, and a few Lexus LX470. Recently, the Sultan drives around in a black Brabus G700. On other occasions he drives a Maybach 62. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his brother Prince Jefri Bolkiah own several luxury and exotic cars, one of the largest collections in the world.

The cars of the president of Bulgaria include Mercedes-Benz S600 and BMW 5 Series and BMW 7 Series. The prime minister is driven in a Toyota Land Cruiser, he very often drives it himself with the security guards sitting in the back of the car. The prime minister is also driven in a black BMW X5. The pilot cars are usually Ford, Toyota or Audi A6 and Audi A8. As of 18 December, the prime minister and president are transported in a top-of-the-line Mercedes S600 Guard, 517 hp.[15]

The King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni is driven in a black Mercedes S-Class 600 with the Royal Palace plate number and the logo of the Royal Standard of the King of Cambodia behind. The king has owned two black Mercedes-Benz 600s and also a black Lexus SUV and uses an armoured Range Rover Sentinel stretch for his visits to provinces and rural area.

The prime minister of Cambodia has owned more than four Mercedes-Benz guard cars and more than five Chevrolet Suburbans in his houses. He also had a black Mercedes-Benz S-Class 600 Carat Duchatelet bullet proof with plate number 2Z-9999 and another black Mercedes-Benz S600 (V221) with plate number 2AA-9999 and two gold Mercedes-Benz S600 (W220)s.

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