Von Elektro-Pionieren zu modernen Flotten: Die Geschichte der Autos bei den Olympischen Spielen

Vehicles at the Olympic Games: A Recap

From the 1972 Electric BMW to Toyota's Fleet in Paris 2024

The Summer Olympics are set to commence in Paris in 2024. While cars might not be a main attraction in the sporting events, they serve as support vehicles for events like the marathon and road cycling races. As of now, Formula 1 has not made it into the Olympics…

Let's take a look at the relationships that have existed between the Olympics and car manufacturers, often as official sponsors with sometimes unusual vehicles. While there isn't a car brand called Olympia, there was indeed a model named that.

Photo Gallery: Cars at the Olympic Games

The Opel Olympia stands out as the inaugural mass-produced German car featuring an all-steel monocoque body. Succeeding the Opel 1.3 Liter, which continued in Opel's lineup until October 1935, it was named in celebration of the 1936 Olympic Games hosted in Berlin and Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Under directives from the government of the Reich, Opel was forced to halt the production of civilian vehicles by October 1940, by which time 168,875 Olympia cars had been manufactured. Following the conclusion of World War II, a revised version of the model resumed production in December 1947. Subsequent years saw the introduction of several "Olympia Rekord" variations, and from 1967 to 1970, the Opel Olympia A was produced as a sort of deluxe version of the Kadett.

The 1947 version of the Opel Olympia

Toyota is known to have been among the pioneering car sponsors during the Olympic Games, having started at the 1964 Summer Olympics. Then, in 1972, BMW took on a similar role, this time for the Games held in their home country.

During the 1972 Munich Olympics, BMW introduced two experimental electric vehicles. These modified BMW 1602 models served as transportation for the organizing committee and were utilized as support and camera vehicles in various endurance events. Their battery life was sufficient for the duration of a marathon, but not beyond that.

It's clear that lead batteries weighing 350 kilograms and a driving range of about 60 kilometers aren't exactly appealing for a mass-produced vehicle. Consequently, BMW is initiating numerous research and development projects aimed at delivering a superior and more importantly, more efficient electric drive technology for everyday road use.

Photo Gallery: BMW 1602 Electric Drive (1972)

In 1992, a similar local revival takes place, once again utilizing electric power: The Summer Olympic Games are held in Barcelona, the hometown of Seat. The regulations for the Olympic marathon state that the lead vehicle must operate without emitting any pollutants.

Seat seized the opportunity and transformed one of its then brand-new Toledo models into a fully electric variant. In just three months, Seat's specialists rolled out their inaugural electric vehicle.

Engineer Thomas Kurz, who played a part in the modifications, looks back fondly on that remarkable accomplishment, saying, "At that time, producing an electric vehicle was a completely novel concept, which made it incredibly thrilling. The car was so unique that we had to register it in Germany first after completion since there was no precedent for registering an electric vehicle in Spain."

Photo Gallery: Seat Toledo Electric Vehicle for the 1992 Summer Olympics

Back then, the primary objective was to ensure that the 500-kilogram battery of the Seat Toledo had sufficient power to last the entire marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers. Nearly three decades ago, the 16 kW (22 horsepower) output was more than sufficient for the task at hand. The electric Seat Toledo was designed to match the pace of marathon runners, which is below 30 km/h.

Jumping back to 2006, Fiat seized the moment during the Turin Winter Olympics to showcase itself as the official vehicle sponsor, while also introducing the then-new Sedici to the global audience. Fast forward to 2008, Volkswagen, at the time a dominant force in China, backed the Beijing Summer Olympics. However, they faced issues back in Germany with the tax authorities over press trips for invited journalists. It appears BMW took note of this, as they meticulously sponsored the 2012 London Summer Olympics with a fleet of their vehicles.

BMW as a sponsor for the 2012 London Olympic Games

Toyota's Fleet for Paris 2024, Image by André Ferreira

Toyota's Fleet for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris

Toyota, the brand that also took on the responsibility in the Tokyo 2021 games, is set to continue its role in the Paris 2024 Olympics. The company has crafted a comprehensive approach that includes a fleet of over 2,650 electrified vehicles and 700 electric mobility options specifically for short-distance travel. This includes 250 Accessible People Movers (APM), which will be redesigned for the Paris 2024 Olympics and produced in Europe. Additionally, Toyota is demonstrating its commitment by establishing several key locations in the heart of Paris.

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