Rising demand for armored cars in Mexico

With just a few days to go before election day in Mexico , when people will be voting for their next president, governors, head of government, mayors, deputees, and senators, the armor plates company Blindajes Epel reported a 10% increase in sales of armored cars, and a 20% increase in leases.

North, South-East, and Central Mexico

were the areas with most units requested.

“Violence rates in Mexico, specially in the areas we just mentioned, are quite high, with a heavy presence of organized crime groups ; This is why many candidates have chosen to use armored vehicles. These vehicles are mostly Level V units since these armored cars protect passengers from assault rifle gunshots as well as short-range weapons ,” the company explained in a press release.

Last Friday , EL UNIVERSAL published that, during this electoral campaign, 47 candidates had been murdered .

According to Ernesto Mizrahi Haiat , head of Epel Armored Cars , Level III armored vehicles are most popular in central Mexico since they stop bullets from short-range weapons.

In the areas with the highest crime rates, clients often request Level-V vehicles , which can also stop bullets from long-barrelled weapons such as AR-15 and AK-47 .

Epel Armored Cars and its branch Shel-Ha also offer lease services, with 45 vehicles in their rental fleet . Their services are based in Monterrey , Villahermosa , and Mexico City .

The company sells around 700 armored vehicles every year. Closing 2018 , they estimate sales of up to 850 vehicles , 70% of which will be Level III , 27% Level V , and the rest of Level VII .

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