page_title: Official state car
section_title: Germany
hierarchical_section_title: Official state car / Countries / Germany
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Der Audi A8 W12 der Bundeskanzlerin Frau Dr. Merkel mit dem Kennzeichen 0-2.
context_page_description: An official 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 and South Korea. 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 of the passengers, these vehicles are often heavily secured and protected. Vehicles may be armoured by the manufacturer or an after-market specialist. When carrying an important passenger, state vehicles may be surrounded by a motorcade consisting of police or military personnel.
context_section_description: 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 the president has also used an Audi A8. The president is (besides the minister of defense) the only German official whose official car regularly shows a flag (a version of the President's standard) placed on the front of the hood.
  All officials under close personal protection from the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), one of Germany's federal police forces, are transported by the BKA pool of armoured cars 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, Porsche Panamera 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. Before becoming the chancellor, he had been the minister president of Lower Saxony, where Volkswagen is headquartered and is a major employer; and the state government owns several stocks in the company. His successor in office, current chancellor Angela Merkel is known to alternate between brands as to project neutrality and support the German car industry in general.
  One of the earliest links between a leader and a particular marque was the association of Paul von Hindenburg and Adolf Hitler with Mercedes-Benz. Especially Hitler 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 were most prominently seen at Nazi parades and Hitler's visits to conquered cities such as Vienna and Paris.
caption: The Audi A8 used by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, with number plates 0 ⁑ 2.
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