The Popemobile goes electric with Mercedes-Benz’s custom G-Class EV

Together with the Vatican, Mercedes-Benz unveiled a customized all-electric G-Class Popemobile gifted from the automaker to Pope Francis.

Flashback: Mercedes-Benz has designed several Popemobiles dating all the way back to 1930 but this is its first EV offering. But this isn’t the Papacy’s first time using electric vehicles. Pope Benedict was also gifted a modified electric Renault Kangoo Maxi ZE back in 2012. However, whether it was an “official” Popemobile is up for debate. 

Fast forward to now — and the Pope will be chauffeured around in a “one-of-a-kind” zero-emission vehicle outfitted with a retractable roof and a rotating seat for him to greet the crowd.

What they’re saying: “This is a special honor for our company, and I would like to thank His Holiness for his trust. With this Popemobile, we are also sending out a clear call for electromobility and decarbonisation,” CEO Ola Kallenius, who personally delivered the vehicle to Pope Francis. 

Why it matters: The Popemobile is an iconic symbol of Vatican tradition.

• And its shift to electric reflects Pope Francis' ongoing advocacy for climate action, urging global acceptance of climate science and environmental stewardship.

• "If we took the planet's temperature, it will tell us that the Earth has a fever. And it is sick," the pontiff said in August. "We must commit ourselves to ... the protection of nature, changing our personal and community habits."

• The Vatican has announced plans to transition its entire vehicle fleet to emission-free models by 2030.

What’s next: The EV has arrived in time for the 2025 Holy Year, a jubilee celebrated every 25 years that draws millions of pilgrims to Rome. The Jubilee begins on December 24 and concludes on January 6.

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