The Popemobile has evolved significantly since the first motorized papal vehicles were donated to Pope Pius XI in 1929. Early models included a Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 460 with modifications such as increased leg room and a dove embroidered into the interior.
A convertible was added to the papal fleet in 1960 during John XXIII’s reign, increasing his visibility while greeting the public. The 1981 assassination attempt on John Paul II led to papal vehicles designed with bulletproof windows, armored plating, and security steps for bodyguards.
While some Popemobiles have been small to allow stadium access, others have been large, such as the glass-sided bus used by John Paul II in Mexico City in 1999. Benedict XVI was the first pope to use hybrid vehicles as papal transport. Though Mercedes-Benz has been the most frequent supplier, Pope Francis preferred more modest, partially open-air vehicles with minimal customization, designed by Renault or Ford.