The last time the ASEAN Summit was held in the Philippines, electrification wasn’t a thing yet. Back then, they provided the organization with a fleet of 730Li sedan, 520d sedan, and X5 Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV).

SUVs are more popular now in 2026 but sedans are still the choice for top VIPs. BMW has provided 25 units of the BMW 760i Protection, 70 of the X3 30e xDrive SAVs, and 30 units of the i5 eDrive 40 to the ASEAN Summit for 2026.

Heads of States will ride in the BMW 760i Protection. This was flown straight from Munich, Germany as they are part of the brand’s Protection fleet that are loaned to different markets all over the world. They were already used in Cebu last week, and will return for the 49th ASEAN Summit in October here in Manila.

They are armored from the factory itself and weigh around 4 tons. Despite the size, it can go from stop to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds. This factory-armored sedan has a rating of VR9, a high-level ballistic protection standard certification (VPAM BRV) designed for civilian armored vehicles to withstand intense rifle fire, including armor-piercing ammunition, such as 7.62x51mm NATO rounds. It is even higher than VR7, the default standard used for VIP, government, and high-threat protection. It has an armored roof that can withstand grenade attacks, its body can endure blasts from all sides including the underbody, and has a 72 mm thick window that can resist the most powerful civilian rifles today.

There’s also All-Wheel Steering, 20-inch PAX run-flat tires that won’t disintegrate if you keep driving after it loses air, and the windows can be rolled down for those quick drive-thru or other necessities.

Individuals who are interested in having their own 7 Protection sedan can inquire at BMW Philippines for their own built-to-order model. Turnaround time will be at least 6 months and will start at a cool P 50 million pesos.

Diplomats were also treated to 70 units of the BMW X3 30e xDrive Plug-in Hybrid. These are 5-seaters that run on a 2.0 TwinPower Turbo Petrol PHEV powertrain, with 299 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque. It has an EV range of 81 to 90 kilometers, can go 0-100 km/h in 6.2 secs, and has a top speed of 215 km/h.

These X3 units will also be sold to interested individuals once they finish their duty in October. You’ll appreciate that they have a distinction from the retail stock, one of which is the different wheel design.

BMW also lent out 30 units of the i5 eDrive40 electric sedans. These were provided earlier in January 2026 and were used to serve the summit, mainly in the preparation stage. They were chosen to be in line with the organization’s commitment to zero-tailpipe-emission mobility and sustainable innovation.

They were also up for sale but as of writing, all units were already sold.

With this 2026 ASEAN Summit fleet, BMW has demonstrated that aesthetic appeal doesn’t have to come at the cost of sustainability. Their lineup proved that environmental consciousness can coexist with high performance and top-tier safety standards worthy of not just executives, but heads of states.