BMW has added a fully electric luxury SUV to the Vatican fleet, handing a new iX xDrive60 with M Sport package to Pope Leo XIV. The handover took place at the Vatican with BMW CEO Oliver Zipse and BMW Italy president Massimiliano Di Silvestre in attendance, and is being framed as a showpiece for both the brand’s electrification push and the pope’s public support for climate action.
In Italian-market spec, the donated iX is roughly a six-figure vehicle, but unlike a bespoke popemobile it remains a regular road-legal SUV that could blend into the broader fleet when it is not in the spotlight.
A High-Spec iX With Plenty Of Power And Range
The gift car is an iX xDrive60 M Sport, BMW’s large dual-motor electric SUV with all-wheel drive and more than 500 horsepower. In this configuration it can accelerate from a standstill to highway speeds in a few seconds while still offering hundreds of miles of range on a charge, depending on conditions. Fast-charging capability allows the battery to go from a low state of charge to a healthy buffer in well under an hour on a high-power DC charger, which matters even in a city-state as compact as the Vatican if the car is used for regular official trips.
BMW is positioning the iX as part of its broader transition toward electric SUVs of different sizes, from compact crossovers like the upcoming iX3 to more traditional models such as the X3. Comparisons like the 2026 BMW X3 against the 2027 BMW iX3 show how quickly the brand’s mainstream lineup is being mirrored by battery-electric alternatives.
Symbolism For BMW And The Vatican
The Vatican has already accepted purpose-built electric popemobiles from other manufacturers, but this iX is described more as a general-use vehicle for the pope and his entourage than as a custom parade car. It joins a small but growing pool of zero-emission vehicles used for day-to-day transport around Rome, reinforcing the message that high-profile institutions should be seen adopting cleaner technology.
For BMW, the optics go beyond a single donation. The company has been highlighting its interior and design work on electric SUVs, down to details such as the light-colored steering wheel option planned even for base versions of the iX3. Putting an iX in papal service gives that design and technology a global stage, even if it spends most of its life doing quiet, low-profile duty between Vatican meetings.
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