Visit the New York Times website right now and you will immediately see, because it is the top story, that the sales of armored cars in Brazil has not at all been affected by the global recession. In fact, sales for these ridiculously safe automobiles have been surging. Once a possession owned only by the Brazilian upper-class, armored cars have found their way to middle-class car owners as well, largely due to an elevated concern of crime and a tax-cut for the auto industry provided by government officials.
On record, crime in Brazil has been decreasing. However, the economic recession in the country is predicted to continue spiraling downward which has most experts agreeing that a spike in criminal activity is likely. So, combine fear with cheaper cars and you get a booming armored cars market. (These companies don't build armored cars from scratch. Rather, they just put the "armor" on regular cars, i.e. bulletproof glass.)
This story definitely surprised me. I had no idea some Brazilian cities were such hot spots for assaults, carjackings, roadside kidnappings, and gang-warfare, especially to the extent that people feel the need to drive around in bulletproof cars. I thought only the President of the United States needed an armored car. Craig Bavington, who owns a tourist agency in Sao Paulo, is quoted in the article saying "It is not a question of if you are going to be assaulted, it is when it is going to happen." Pretty amazing, I always thought of Brazil as a happy place where everyone is constantly playing soccer. I guess I'm just happy I don't need bulletproof glass for my Altima.
All in all, however, it is a bit sad that the factor leading to all these profits in the auto industry is ultimately, a heightened fear of being mugged. But, whenever there is high demand for a product, regardless of how that demand originates, suppliers are going to supply goods and profit off of whatever they can.
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