22 April 2002: Volkswagen in Mexico has launched its Passat Protect, an armour-plated version of its key model, with a price-tag of $80,000. Between it and Audi equivalents, the company expects to sell some 160 units a year against a background of rampant crime, a police force riddled with corruption and a growing conviction that authorities were powerless to guarantee safe streets.

Demand for armour-plated vehicles in the last five years has almost doubled, with at least 1,500 vehicles owned mainly by businessmen and government officials being armor-plated last year.

In Mexico City, an average of 104 vehicles are stolen each day -- at least 40 percent of them by violent means. The rise in violent crime is linked to the availability of firearms. It is estimated that among Mexico City's 18 million inhabitants, there are 500,000 illegal handguns.

The costs of protecting a car with armor plating range from about $16,000 to $120,000.

Almost 50 percent of world demand for armor-plated cars comes from Latin America. Much of the rest is done in Russia, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, Ukraine, and South Africa.

©2002irishcar.com