In South Africa, the increase in armed vehicle attacks is driving the market for armored vehicles forward. A large American car manufacturer has even partnered with a screening company to offer its customers safe models. Romain Chanson visited this company’s garage in northern Pretoria, the South African capital where these vehicles are armored.
From our correspondent,
An AK-47 in his hands pushes the company director a metal plate. The SVI manager wants to show the resistance in his materials to a client. The customer is Bradford Wood, an employee of a security company, recently attacked by one of his colleagues.
“One of the vehicles received 42 AK-47 bullets here in Pretoria,” said Bradford Wood. “They attacked a pickup truck with mobile phones and electronic equipment. You know, here in South Africa it’s like a battlefield, people are killed just for their cell phones. They point at you and shoot you to steal the car. “
South African police counted 18,000 car robberies in 2020. An increase of 70% in ten years. Count about 20,000 euros for light and discreet armor on a pickup, in addition to the car’s price. Despite very high prices, the market is increasing.
“If you can afford the armor, why not have extra security?” asks Nicolas Louw, sales manager. For personalities, businessmen. If you have to go back and forth to the bank to deposit money, you need an armored vehicle. So yes, we are seeing an increase in sales of vehicles with discreet armor for private individuals, but the real boom is coming from the private security market. ”
Nicol Louw takes us on a tour with a German diesel-powered car 2018. Light, striking armor has been added. “The car is very manoeuvrable because with this armor we only add 250 kg,” he explains. It is easy to drive, you also notice that it is very quiet because the shield also acts as an insulator against external noise. ”
The SVI company is not the only one that manufactures armored vehicles in South Africa, but the supply is still limited. Not much further predicts Jaco De Kock, head of SVI: “We export to Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, almost all countries in southern Africa. This business is still a niche, but I believe that Africa can do great things and in the future we risk having competition on the continent. ”
SVI has already produced more than 2,500 armored vehicles. As long as crime statistics increase, the market will flourish.
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