BULLETPROOF CAR

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Whether to provide genuinely-needed protection or just to show off, the bulletproofed personal vehicle has usually been associated with the rich, but in Brazil, armoured cars are far more common than in most countries. Industry experts consider Brazil’s $245 million (one billion reais) bulletproofing industry the largest in the world. But with an economy only just crawling out of recession — one per cent growth in 2017 came on the heels of a steep two year-recession — worried drivers are searching for budget options. “I like cars, but I don’t feel comfortable spending a lot of money on one,” said lawyer Mauricio Paulo, who drives a secondhand bulletproof Volvo XZ 60. This is the 40-year-old Paulo’s fourth armoured vehicle. He got his first armoured car after being robbed while he stopped at a traffic light. The birth of his daughter 18 months ago convinced him he still needs to have one — and stay frugal. “I need a bulletproof car because of lack of safety,” he said. “I went for a used car because I’m going to spend less money to move around safely.” To modify a car costs around $13,000 (53,600 reais), pretty much like buying an additional vehicle. Going for an already used and already armoured vehicle gets the price tag down by between 10 and 40 per cent, according to varying estimates from dealers and owners.

But industry experts say it is a real trend here.

“This year, the used car market is hot,” said Fabio Rovedo de Mello, director of a Sao Paulobased bulletproofing company.

“Because of the situation the country is going through, the demand for used cars has gone up.”