British leaders may get German cars

The government of the United Kingdom might soon dump its fleet of armored Jaguar XJs for German-made Audi sedans — infuriating officials who say the move would undermine the British manufacturing industry.

The Metropolitan Police, who are responsible for protecting the U.K.'s prime minister and Cabinet, will switch to bulletproof Audi A8s next year, according to a story last week in The Sun headlined "Car-tastrophe."

The government can't buy more XJs because Jaguar has halted production of the car in response to declining sales during the coronavirus pandemic.

Jaguar has supplied the prime minister's car since the early 1980s.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the decision is up to the Metropolitan Police, "who obviously also take in wider security considerations," but added that the country's leader would "always promote and champion British companies."

Johnson himself is stepping down, with a replacement due to be chosen this week, and thus wouldn't be in office when any change happens.

"We need to see a British prime minister in a British car," Gary Sambrook, a member of Parliament, told The Telegraph. "No other country would overlook their own automotive sector like this."