Manmohan Singh has declined to use the BMW cars ordered by the previous National Democratic Alliance government for the use of the prime minister, as he prefers the time-tested ambassadors.

The NDA government had ordered the cars for the use of Singh's predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The Special Protection Group, which oversees the security of the prime minister, would not permit only one BMW as it would stand out in a convoy of ambassadors, which is the preferred vehicle of government officials. Eventually, six were ordered.

Vajpayee used them but, according to sources, Singh has been reluctant to do so. The main reason is that UPA constituents had criticised the purchase of these expensive cars, which cost crores.

Also Read No takers for Vajpayee's BMWs

After the NDA was voted out of power, these custom-made bullet-proof cars imported from Germany were offered to top functionaries of the United Progressive Alliance. But none of them had taken up the offer.