bulletproofGet to know the price of bulletproof for your car in SA; data from the vehicle tracking cluster Tracker shows that South African hijackings are getting more and more violent.

According to Tracker’s records, over the past year, a mean of eighteen customers a month experienced physical injury throughout a hijacking, through being shot, injured or abused. One in 10 of those incidents proven fatal, the cluster said.

 “Criminals are more and more taking hostages throughout hijackings and tracker has noted that on the average that 27 of our activations result in a hostage being taken,” it said.

 Speaking to BusinessTech, Grant Anderson MD of Armormax – a  manufacturer of civilian armoured vehicles – pointed to a gentle upward mechanical phenomenon in sales for armoured vehicles within the country.

 “This has been driven to an outsized extent by the continuing level of violent crime rife in our society.”

 “We have saved nineteen lives that we tend to are alert to, in attacks on our vehicles in SA. the bulk of those in hijackings wherever the attacker force the trigger that could be a scary statistic on condition that we tend to are a custom manufacturer of luxury armoured vehicles and don’t have thousands of vehicles on the road.”

Protection



Armormax has de-escalated the many us and European standards for flight levels and settled on Level B4 (protection against high supercharged handgun rounds) and Level B6 ( Protection against the first common assault rifles found in SA just like the R4/5, AK 47 and R1/FN) for the South African market.

“Most hijackings are still committed with handguns as they're simple to hide, and for this level of threat a B4 is good,” Anderson aforementioned.

“Regarding prices, we tend to don’t differentiate between vehicle models, however by ballistic levels.

“Our base level B4 build starts at R550,000 and our B6 at R1,500,000 (compared with a mean value of in way over R10 million for level B6 from one amongst the OEM makers.)

“Our vehicles are amongst the lightest armored vehicles found globally, with a mean intercalary weight of 180 kgs on a B4 and 500 kgs for a B6 (compared to 1800 kgs on a number of the OEM builds).”

According to Armormax’s website, the B4 upgrade allows engineers to armor crucial areas of the traveler cabin.

“We replace all the glass with trajectory glass, integrate armor into the four doors, A.B and C pillars still because the rear seats or boot divider, therefore providing around 90th of the protection for plenty but the price of a manufacturer B4 level armored vehicle,” it said.

“As a consumer, you'll be able to choose to armor any further areas you feel are necessary on your vehicle (e.g., the roof in a sedan).

“When we tend to armor a vehicle to level B6, we tend to produce an entire cocoon, as well as the floor, roof, firewalls, engine bay protection, etc.”

The cost of bulletproofing a car in South Africa varies widely depending on several factors, including the level of protection desired, the type and size of the vehicle, and the specific areas to be armored (e.g., windows, doors, body panels, or entire car). Here’s a detailed breakdown of the expected costs and considerations involved in bulletproofing a car in South Africa:

1. Levels of Bulletproofing and Costs

  • Basic Level (Level B4): This level typically offers protection against handguns and small arms (such as 9mm, .44 Magnum rounds).
    • Estimated Cost: R200,000 to R500,000.
    • Protection: Reinforced windows and selective armor for doors.
  • Higher Levels (B6 and B7): Higher levels of protection that can withstand assault rifles like the AK-47 and higher-caliber rounds.
    • Estimated Cost: R500,000 to R1.5 million.
    • Protection: Full-body armor, ballistic glass, reinforced roof and floors, and other extensive structural reinforcements.

2. Type of Car and Specific Requirements

  • Size of Vehicle: Larger vehicles, like SUVs, require more materials, which increases the cost compared to smaller cars.
  • Partial vs. Full Armoring: Opting to bulletproof only certain parts (such as doors and windows) is less costly than a complete armor, which includes floors, roof, and all body panels.
  • Special Features: Additional customization such as reinforced run-flat tires, bulletproof fuel tanks, or explosion-resistant floors can add R50,000 to R200,000 or more to the total.

3. Types of Materials Used and Associated Costs

  • Ballistic Glass: Bulletproof windows are typically made of multi-layered glass and polycarbonate. They are a significant portion of the cost due to the need for customized manufacturing to fit specific vehicle models.
  • Steel Armor: High-strength steel or specialized ballistic materials used to armor the vehicle’s body add significantly to the cost.
  • Weight Considerations: The added weight of the armor requires reinforced suspension systems, which can further increase the cost.

4. Maintenance and Additional Costs

  • Increased Fuel Consumption: Bulletproofing adds weight, which can increase fuel costs by about 10-20%.
  • Servicing Requirements: Bulletproofed vehicles may need specialized servicing, especially for suspension and brakes due to added weight.
  • Insurance Premiums: Bulletproofing may raise the vehicle’s insurance premiums, as it increases the value and repair costs.

5. Legal and Registration Costs

  • Bulletproofed cars must comply with South African laws. Certain levels of armoring may require additional permits, and some insurance companies have specific requirements for insuring armored vehicles, adding a few thousand rands in regulatory fees and insurance premiums.

Total Estimated Cost Range

For a basic level of bulletproofing (protection from handguns), you can expect to spend around R200,000 to R500,000. For a higher level that protects against assault rifles, the cost generally ranges from R500,000 to R1.5 million or more, depending on the vehicle and customizations.


Common models

According to Anderson, these are the vehicles most commonly armoured.
  • Land Rover: Range Rover Vogue, Range Rover Sport, Land Rover Discovery, Land Rover Defender
  • Toyota / Lexus: Toyota Land Cruiser 200,/ Lexus LX 570, Lexus LS, Land Cruiser 78/79, Lexus GS, Prado, Hilux D/Cab,
  • VW: Touareg, Amarok, Caravelle, Gti
  • Volvo: XC 90, S 80
  • BMW: Three Series, Five Series, Seven Series,X5,X6
  • Audi: Q7, A8, A6, A4
  • Mercedes: S Class, E class, C class, Vito, ML, GL , G Wagon
  • Chrysler: Jeep Cherokee and derivatives
  • Infiniti: FX, QX
  • Nissan: Patrol, Navara
  • Porsche: Cayenne
  • Mitsubishi: Pajero