Mercedes-Benz G-Class Electric Serves As Latest Popemobile

Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius headed to the Vatican on Wednesday to personally greet Pope Francis and hand over the keys to the Pontiff’s new Popemobile, a modified Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
 

The donor G-Class was an electric G 580 with EQ Technology, making this the first Mercedes Popemobile to be powered by batteries. It’s not the first electric Popemobile, though. That honor goes to a Popemobile based on the Opel Ampera-E, delivered to Pope Francis in 2017. The Ampera-E is a rebadged Chevrolet Bolt that was briefly sold by Opel when the brand was still part of General Motors.
 
The latest Popemobile follows a long line of Mercedes-Benz vehicles used by the leaders of the Catholic Church over the past 94 years. The first was a Nürburg 460 Pullman Saloon for Pope Pius XI, delivered in 1930. This was followed by a 600 Pullman Landaulet and 300 SEL for Pope John XXIII. His successor, Paul VI, used a Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet and, later, a 300 SEL.
 
A G-Class has served as the basis for Mercedes’ Popemobiles since the 1980s, at which point the Popemobile name became popularized. The first G-Class-based Popemobile was used by Pope John Paul II, who regularly used it for celebrations in Saint Peter’s Square.
 

The new electric Popemobile is slated to go into action later this month when Pope Francis makes an official visit to Brazil. It will also feature prominently during the upcoming 2025 Jubilee celebrations.
 
The G 580 with EQ Technology, which was launched for the 2025 model year, features a quad-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain rated at 579 hp. However, the Pope’s version is equipped with a powertrain designed for the low speeds required for public appearances.
 
At the rear of the vehicle is a rotating seat that allows for flexible movement and enables addressing an audience from various angles. Positioned behind this seat are two additional seats, integrated on the left and right, to accommodate extra passengers. A protective canopy can also be added when necessary to deal with inclement weather.