When Elon Musk let his five-year-old design a real-life car, he made it bulletproof. We all laughed as it barely managed to stop a steel ball from cracking a window. It would hardly be any use against Mike three-quarters of a kilometre away holding an M40A1 sniper rifle. But the idea was sound, especially in places where crime is rampant. We may not have a Cybertruck to look foolish in, but we do have Armoured Mobility.
Armoured Mobility is a South African outlet “specialising in the production, retail, and leasing of bulletproof vehicles.” It’s essentially made a name for itself by turning everyday cars — like Chery’s Tiggo 8 Pro Max — into a Grand Theft Auto cheat code for a hefty R1.3-million chunk of change. Kevlar doesn’t come cheap. We think.
Armoured Mobility: “Fear Fokol“
Armoured Mobility reckons if you aren’t buying outright, you’ll need to be earning at least R100,000 a month to get hold of its “flexible financing plans.” Thanks, but no. We’ll stick to wishful lottery winnings for now.
Currently, there are only two ‘levels’ of protection on the market allowed for civilian usage. Those are B4 and B6, the former of which is designed to stop smaller guns such as handguns, while the more expensive B6 can protect against “high-powered rifle threats.”
| Protection Level | Firearm Protection | Additional Weight | Ballistic Material Used |
| B4 | 9mm, .40, .45, .357 | 110kg-140kg | Kevlar & B4 Ballistic Glass |
| B6 | AK47s, R1 rifles, Sniper rifles | 450kg-600kg | Reinforced Ballistic Steel and B6 Ballistic Glass |
Where Armoured Mobility differs from the competition is its 360-degree armouring abilities, covering everything from the sunroof to the cabin. But how much does it cost to get a vehicle kitted out? We’ve included tables below to better outline the price of both B4 and B6 protection levels across a spectrum of vehicles:
Premium Discreet Range with B4 protection:
| Vehicle Type | B4 Protection |
| Hatchbacks | From R694,900 |
| Luxury Sedans | From R720,000 |
| SUV | From R659,900 to R849,900 |
| Passenger Vehicle | From R849,900 |
| Bakkies | From R479,900 to R639,900 |
Premium Discreet Range with B6 protection:
| Vehicle Type | B6 Protection |
| Luxury Sedan | From R1,400,000 |
| SUV | From R1,180,000 to R1,450,000 |
| Passenger Vehicle | From R1,550,000 |
| Bakkies | From R499,900 to R1,050,000 |
Security Range with B6 protection with 360-degree Security (Including Curved Windscreen)
| Vehicle Type | B6 Protection |
| Single | R529,900 |
| Super | R649,900 |
| Double | R679,900 |
| Fortuner | R859,900 |
“While the cost of armoured vehicles may seem prohibitive for many South Africans, the invaluable protection they offer against the country’s escalating crime rates cannot be overstated,” Armoured Mobility said in a release. “With ongoing efforts to enhance affordability and accessibility, Armoured Mobility remains committed to providing citizens with the peace of mind they deserve in an increasingly uncertain country,” it concluded.
