Vehicles made by European car manufacturers BMW and Mercedes are just some of the options being considered to replace the Commonwealth's fleet of official vehicles known as 'COMCAR'.
Australian-built Holden Caprice sedans make up the majority of the fleet - used by politicians, judges and international guests of government, as a luxurious means of car travel. The vehicles are guaranteed to be less than four years old.
Mercedes-Benz E200 Source: AAP
The ABC reports that from early next year the Finance Department will begin trialing new imported cars, including models from Hyundai and Toyota.
While the department says the current fleet "is being maintained and extended to its full life," it is looking to move them on.
The ABC has been told COMCAR conducted an initial assessment of 18 vehicles and narrowed that down to seven vehicles.
"These vehicles were selected due to meeting a number of key criteria, including whole-of-life costs, overall value for money, fit for purpose, protocol and environmental considerations," the department told the ABC.
It's believed "luxury" vehicles that retail for more than $100,000 including the BMW 5 series, as well as the Mercedes E Class, are likely to be among the models favoured by the Commonwealth.
'The early favourite'
BMW is said to be the early favourite as it already supplies the Commonwealth's armoured vehicles.
In 2015, a fleet of nine BMW 7 Series High Security cars, priced at around $550,000 each, were pressed into official Australian Government service for then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
The cars are designed to keep the Australian PM and other high-ranking officials out of harm's way, with thicker doors and bullet-proof glass just some of the vehicle's safety measures.
The Prime Minister's car Source: AAP
The V12-powered luxury limousines replaced an ageing fleet of armoured Holden Caprice vehicles at the time.
Death of Australia's car industry
The move to select an imported vehicle follows the
Labor’s Industry spokesperson Senator Kim Carr expressed disappointment over what he called the "regrettable death" of Australia’s car manufacturing industry.
"It’s a tragedy and it highlights yet again the foolhardy decision that this Government made to undermine, destroy our vehicle assembly in Australia," Senator Carr told the ABC.
Senator Carr suggested preference should be given to car companies which remain in Australia undertaking research and development.
"The Commonwealth could lead the way in being able to use its purchasing power in such a way as to attract new investment to the Australian automotive industry," he said.
