The AFP have felt moved to explain the BMW’s in Kevin Rudd’s entourage as he harrangues the rest of Government at all levels to buy Australian cars that aren’t good enough on their own merits:
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) would like to clarify media reporting in relation to the inclusion of BMW vehicles in the AFP’s dignitary protection fleet.
The AFP has a fleet of vehicles used for dignitary protection which includes both Ford Territory and BMW vehicles. The AFP requires a proportion of dignitary protection fleet to be armoured.
After an extensive selection and tender process, as part of the long term plan to upgrade the AFP dignitary Protection fleet, 5 BMW xDrive 50i armoured security vehicles were purchased in October 2010.
To convert an Australian manufactured vehicle to armoured requires significant customisation at a considerably greater cost than purchasing purpose built vehicles such as the BMW X5 xDrive 50i.
The AFP is confident the BMW armoured security vehicle is the most suited vehicle to fulfill the AFP’s operational responsibilities in protecting both Australian and foreign dignitaries.
Just as every other non-Australian built car in use elsewhere by Government was judged superior on price, features, or performance.