The outsourcing of luxury armored car rentals has also expanded, as ABLA´s follow-up on the matter shows. Although the outsourcing of luxury armored car rentals has not been included in the ABLA survey yet, the President of the Association, Jose Adriano Donzelli, says that in fact, such a demand has grown considerably. "This type of outsourcing is a relatively recent phenomenon in Brazil and will have to be included in future ABLA surveys," he adds.
Companies from various business sectors have consulted Car Rentals, as they want to offer armored cars to senior and also second rank executives among other fringe benefits. The cars are part of the contracts signed with Car Rentals, which generates in average an economy of 25% for the customer, when compared to companies that buy luxury armored cars for their executives
According to Donzelli, this is therefore a promissory market niche for Car Rentals. There is a growing nationwide trend for expansion here, as it has been happening since 2001 in the Brazilian southeast,. "Car Rentals in the South, North, Northeast and Center-West are also starting to obtain new customers within this niche of luxurious armored cars".
In addition, due to the increase in competition among car armoring companies, the price to shield a vehicle has fallen 35% over the last three years. The most recent survey carried out by Abrablin showed a growth of 15% in the production of armored vehicles in the first semester of 2005, in comparison to the same period in 2004. In absolute numbers, production in the first six months in 2005 was 1,813 cars, as opposed to 1,575 in 2004.
According to Franco Giaffone, President of Abrablin,, such expansion will have reached 26.8% by the end of 2005, with more than 3,800 armored cars produced (Abrablin had not concluded the 2005 survey by the closing of ABLA's Yearbook).
Models
The survey carried out by Abrablin also showed that the Toyota Corolla and the Audi A3 are the only medium sized cars among the most frequently armored ones. Since 2003, the Corolla maintains the lead among the most armored models. The A3 model, that has already occupied third position in the ranking, presently shares fourth position with the A4.
Myths and Truths about armored cars• Truth: The weight of the armor can jeopardize the engine’s performance. For that reason, many armoring companies try to reduce the weight of materials used. When closing a deal, some armoring companies boast that the cabin of a sedan becomes bullet-proof against 9 mm pistols or Magnum 44 revolvers by adding only 100 extra kilograms worth of bullet-proof materials. Bear in mind that the bullet-proof glass alone, used on the Omega for example, weighs on average 160Kg (Level III-A - 21mm).
• Myth: The thicker the material (glass, steel plates, blankets, etc.) the better the protection. In fact, technical standards specify what bullet caliber a certain armoring should withstand, but they do not specify the thickness of materials used. Otherwise, no technological progress.would be possible.
• Truth: the use of aramid bullet-proofing instead of steel plates reduces the weight of the shield. This is true, however, steel plating cannot be overlooked because aramid bullet-proofing does not have any mechanical resistance at the edges. For that reason, the use of the steel plating in different parts of the vehicle is necessary, such as doors, columns, the edges of aramid bullet-proofing and glass. Only then will the cabin be thoroughly protected.
• Myth: bullet-proof vests are invulnerable. It is worth pointing out that regardless of being bulletproof, these vests cannot withstand the impact of knives and other cutting weapons and blades. The impact area of a projectile is different from that of a pointed object. But today there are already vests which can withstand the impact of cutting weapons. Consumers should be aware of these facts. Source: Abrablin.
How to choose an armoring company
Before deciding where to armor some of the cars of the fleet, car rental companies should make sure how long the armoring company has been operating in the market. "To begin with, do not worry about the price of the armor and the guarantee that the company offers. These should not be the only criteria evaluated. Most important is to know whether the shield will provide the user with the necessary safety ", says Franco Giaffone, President of Abrablin. You should demand that the armoring company shows its Certificate of Registry (CR) issued by the Brazilian Army. Without this document the company is not allowed not operate within this segment, since an armored car is listed as a controlled product. Ask if the materials used in the shield were approved in tests carried out by the Army and if this can be certified through a copy of the Experimental Technical Report (ReTEx) issued by the Army.
Do not be satisfied only by visiting the armoring company’s show-room. Visit the shop-floor where the shield is actually installed. Try to know beforehand how long the armoring job will take. Some companies make photos of the armoring process available online. This may guarantee that the vehicles are really being shielded as offered.
Choose the armoring level in accordance with the level of safety required by the customer. For such a purpose, you will have to take a good look at the table of ballistic shock resistance. All descriptions used by companies must show the material’s resistance to projectiles, equivalent to the levels defined by the Army. Make sure shielding is installed on the transparent parts (glass), as well as on the opaque surfaces of the car. The whole cabin must be protected, as the Army prohibits partial shielding.
Repeat this process with at least two armoring companies and do not let yourself be convinced just by subjective reasons. Only once you have checked the aforementioned procedures, start worrying about prices and guarantee terms offered. Upon receiving the car, check the Term of Responsibility and make sure that all the materials used in the assembly – bullet-proof glass, aramid bullet-proofing and steel plating – are appropriate for the safety level you need. A detailed description of each one of the materials used must be specified in the aforesaid term. Without this document the Army will not register the armored vehicle. This is the guarantee and legally binding document through which the armoring company holds responsibility for the job done.
The outsourcing of luxury armored car rentals has also expanded, as ABLA´s follow-up on the matter shows. Although the outsourcing of luxury armored car rentals has not been included in the ABLA survey yet, the President of the Association, Jose Adriano Donzelli, says that in fact, such a demand has grown considerably. "This type of outsourcing is a relatively recent phenomenon in Brazil and will have to be included in future ABLA surveys," he adds.
Companies from various business sectors have consulted Car Rentals, as they want to offer armored cars to senior and also second rank executives among other fringe benefits. The cars are part of the contracts signed with Car Rentals, which generates in average an economy of 25% for the customer, when compared to companies that buy luxury armored cars for their executives
• Myth: bullet-proof vests are invulnerable. It is worth pointing out that regardless of being bulletproof, these vests cannot withstand the impact of knives and other cutting weapons and blades. The impact area of a projectile is different from that of a pointed object. But today there are already vests which can withstand the impact of cutting weapons. Consumers should be aware of these facts.