At its stand in Hall 3 at Gallagher Estate, SVI is showcasing multiple vehicles for the commercial and private security markets as well as police and law enforcement. SVI Business Development Director Nicol Louw explained to ProtectionWeb that the lightest, most cost effective solution it has is its B2 LITE protection solution for the driver and passenger doors of vehicles. Focusing mostly on civilian use, this partial armouring provides protection against small-calibre handguns (9 mm) in the area most likely to be targeted in an attack.

The kit consists of 13 mm B2 rated ballistic glass, with the windows still fully functional, as well as a Kevlar door sheet protecting more than 80% of the door area, for a total weight of 15 kg per door. Louw likens this to a bullet-resistant vest for vehicles, protecting vital areas. The B2 LITE armour costs around R65 000 per door for a Ford Ranger, and R55 000 for a Toyota Corolla Cross.

On the bigger end of the scale, SVI brought its MAX SWAT armoured vehicle, able to carry 12 crew and provide protection against assault rifles and other threats. It was designed for various sectors, from police and correctional services to private security and the military.

The 12-seater MAX SWAT can carry a payload of more than 2 tonnes. It can be fitted with an optional auxiliary power unit (APU) capable of independently running the air-conditioning system as well as any specialised systems (such as ground radars and long-range cameras) that the client may wish to include. These can be accommodated in two cargo bay areas at the rear corners of the vehicle. At Securex 2025, the vehicle is fitted with a mast-mounted Hensoldt South Africa Bushbaby 100 electro-optical surveillance system.

The SVI MAX SWAT has a build time of three months and is priced from R4.4 million, and is the most expensive vehicle on the company’s stand. On the smaller end of the scale, SVI displayed an armoured Jeep Grand Cherokee, an armoured Toyota Hilux fitted with a ‘drone in a box’ (ideal for mining security and other tasks) as well as its lightweight MAX 3 armoured personnel carrier, based on Toyota’s proven Land Cruiser 79 series chassis.

At last year’s Securex SVI unveiled its new Golf 8 GTI response vehicle with bullet resistance against AK-47 calibre rifles. The discreetly armoured hatchback offers protection against handguns and rifles up to 7.62×39 mm, including the pervasive AK-47.

SVI specialises in the armouring of civilian vehicles, luxury vehicles, security vehicles, and the manufacture of MAX-series armoured personnel carriers (APCs), armoured truck cabs, and armoured guard houses, amongst others. Since establishment in 2004, SVI has manufactured or converted approximately 3 000 vehicles, with customers in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Although SVI has a list of preferred vehicles it armours for the sake of ease of modification, the company can armour just about any vehicle, from Volvo to Maserati. Its typical private customers fit armour to BMW sedans and SUVs and Toyota Hilux and Land Cruiser/Prado models. Apart from manufacturing, SVI has an armoured fleet rental division as well as a test track and driver training academy.

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The MAX SWAT is a sibling to the company’s popular MAX 3 range of armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and the MAX 9 military vehicle.

“From the outset of our rigorous design and engineering process, we knew a high level of adaptability was key for the SVI MAX SWAT – and that’s exactly what we’ve achieved. This new APC’s versatility means it’s well suited to various sectors, from police and correctional services to private security and indeed military. Therefore, AAD 2024 was the perfect place for us to reveal it,” said Jaco de Kock, CEO of SVI.

The new SVI MAX SWAT has been designed for a wide range of roles, including border patrol, public-order maintenance, command & control, and tactical surveillance, as well as special weapons & tactics (SWAT) and mobile assault & reconnaissance system (MARS) operations.

Providing a minimum protection level of EN1063 BR6 (assault rifles, including AK47, R1 and R5), the MAX SWAT employs a custom-fabricated armoured monocoque hull (bolted to a ladder-frame chassis) and armoured glass windows, with the latter strategically positioned to maximise situational awareness. The substantial side doors, meanwhile, allow for rapid ingress and egress, providing a distinct tactical advantage during high-risk operations, SVI said.

The 12-seater MAX SWAT can carry a payload of more than 2 tonnes. It can be fitted with an optional auxiliary power unit (APU) capable of independently running the air-conditioning system as well as any specialised systems (such as ground radars and long-range cameras) that the client may wish to include. These can be accommodated in two cargo bay areas at the rear corners of the vehicle. At AAD 2024, one bay was fitted with a Honda generator, and another a Hensoldt South Africa Bushbaby 100 optronic mast.

“Since reliability and ease of maintenance are particularly crucial factors for vehicles tasked with transporting personnel and equipment in high-risk areas, SVI opted to use a well-proven powertrain from Japanese automotive giant Isuzu. As such, the MAX SWAT employs the 7.8-litre, inline-six turbodiesel engine (6HK1-TCN) familiar from Isuzu’s range of medium-duty trucks,” the company said.

Generating peak outputs of 176 kW and 706 Nm, this six-cylinder motor drives all four wheels as standard. SVI upgraded the drivetrain to include a six-speed Allison 2500 Series automatic transmission in place of the otherwise-standard manual gearbox.

“The use of this field-proven Isuzu 4×4 powertrain, along with tough Isuzu axles and suspension components, plus various commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, serves to not only ensure reliability and simplify maintenance but also to boost operational efficiency and thus reduce total lifecycle costs. In fact, routine servicing can be performed at any Isuzu dealership across South Africa or in neighbouring African countries,” SVI said.

The SVI MAX SWAT has a build time of three months and is priced from R4.4 million. It comes standard with SVI’s innovative anti-riot scraper – which looks like a regular bumper until it is deployed – as well as anti-riot screen guards. In addition to the APU, available options include heavy-duty runflat rings, shot-detection and -location systems, medical equipment, and mast-mounted camera.

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