Volkswagen hands over ID.3 Pro Performance cars to the Pope

MANILA: Volkswagen has handed over two ID.3 Pro Performance cars to the Pope.

Per the German carmaker, the two fully electric cars herald its support for the Vatican City State’s transition towards sustainable mobility.

Being the Holy See’s selected partner for its Ecological Conversion 2030, Volkswagen will deliver under 40 fully electric cars to the Vatican at the beginning of next year. The expected models to be brought to the Papal country will include the aforementioned ID.3, the ID.4, and ID.5.

At later stages — the Wolfsburg-based brand explained — further zero-emission vehicles from the Volkswagen Group brands will be progressively handed over up until the entire fleet has been completely replaced by 2030.

“The electrification of fleets is becoming increasingly important across the globe. The fact that Vatican employees will now also be among our ID. drivers in the future is a great target and honor for our brand and underscores the attractiveness of our all-electric ID. models.” said Volkswagen Passenger Cars Member of the Board of Management for Sales, Marketing, and After-Sales Imelda Labbé.

The Vatican City State is strongly committed to the implementation of innovative and sustainable solutions that make it possible to reduce, in concrete terms, the impact of human activities on the environment in order to protect the planet.

Mobility — Volkswagen noted — is at the heart of the Vatican’s Ecological Conversion 2030 program, which aims to reduce the carbon dioxide footprint of the state's vehicle fleet. To achieve this, the existing vehicles will be gradually replaced by electric ones to make the entire fleet carbon-neutral by 2030.

“We are delighted to support the Vatican in this important project. This is something very special for us and shows that we are absolutely competitive with our mobility solutions,” stated Volkswagen Financial Services Chairman of the Board of Management Dr. Christian Dahlheim.

Volkswagen is yet to enter the electrified segment in the Philippines. And to signal its forthcoming arrival in the budding electric vehicle platform, the brand has brought the Tharu into the country not too long ago. 

Despite not having an electric or an electrified powertrain, the Philippine-spec Volkswagen Tharu is said to be the model that would be the company’s “bridge to its electrified future.”

Photos from Volkswagen and Hazel Nicole Carreon

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