Pope gets the best of both
2006-09-12 19:47
Regensburg, Germany - Two of Germany's carmaking giants have reached a truce over the official limousine for Pope Benedict XVI's nostalgic visit to his native Bavaria.
BMW and Audi are both based in Bavaria - BMW in Munich and Audi in Ingolstadt - and both claimed the right to supply the official car for the six-day visit.
With neither company prepared to give way, the Munich Archbishop's office was forced to step in to make the final decision - when in Munich, where the pope landed from Rome on Saturday, he would be driven in a BMW 7-series but during his three-day stay in Regensburg he would use an Audi A8.
"It was important to us that we provided the car he used first on his visit," said a BMW spokesman.
"After all, when the pope is in Munich, he should be driven in a BMW."
Audi said it was satisfied with the compromise.
"At the end of the day, it is all about the visibility of the product," a spokesman said.
There is however only one popemobile, and it is made by Mercedes, the third of Germany's big three carmakers.