Mexico:The Mecca of the Armored Car Industry

Mexico:The Mecca of the Armored Car Industry

Mounting drug-related violence fuelling a rapidly deteriorating law and order situation is fast making Mexico the mecca of the armored car industry. At the last count there were over 50 backstreet vehicle armoring companies with more start-ups in the pipeline.

Lawless Environment

It is a state of affairs - looking over your shoulder and in constant fear of your life -which most of us are unaccustomed to. But in parts of Mexico where there is scant respect for the rule of law, many are looking for protection wherever they can find it.

To those who can afford it, an armored car is some solution which provides a degree of peace of mind and security. This increasing demand has made armoring of vehicles a growth industry. An armored car is no longer a luxury but a necessity to people in many walks of life who live in perpetual fear, in cities where kidnappings for extortion have become a popular and lucrative pastime.

An armored car looks no different to a standard version of the vehicle with a number of secretive add-on features. Apart from offering a protective shield from small arms fire, armored cars in Mexico do everything from emitting smoke to create a smoke screen and to providing ear-splitting sonic blasts to offering protection from an IED blast.

Under the Gun - Literally

The Mexican armored car industry is booming, catalyzed by a greedy demand for its products and services. Everything is brought in from SUVs to older vehicles like Hondas and Kias in an effort to protect their owners. USA Today reports that even OEMs have entered the fray and hit the ground running to target the growing middle-class potential. You can buy an armored Volkswagen Jetta, if you can afford it, for a matter of $70,000 and change. A small price to pay, if you have the money, value your life, and feel you may be a target.

Mexico City is now rated as the world's leading city for kidnappings and shows no apparent signs of letting up on that position; to the regret and chagrin of its citizens. The need for security has created a huge business opportunity. Violence-related concerns have spawned a voracious demand for bulletproof vehicles, according to the spokesperson of a leading local car armoring company.

Northern Mexico Under Fire

The biggest market for American car armorers are corporations spread along the American-Mexican border, bought to protect their managers and corporate executives who reside in El Paso and shuttle to their offices in Juarez. These SUVs and other cars provide their passengers protection from acts of violence like random shootings, carefully planned high-level assaults, and kidnappings.

A Leading Car Armoring Company

A well-established car armoring company is Ultra Armoring of Kings Mountain, NC. It has been in the vehicle armoring business for over two decades during which it has supplied armored vehicles which have and are operating in many hot-spots around the globe.

Its R&D department is constantly on the alert to develop solutions to ever emerging new challenges. Ultra Armoring boasts a generously-sized manufacturing facility equipped with state-of-the-art computerized fabrication machinery.

www.ultraarmoring.com