Mahindra Building Bulletproof Toyota Land Cruisers? We Explain
Mahindra is a known name among SUV enthusiasts in India and other countries. It offers a wide range of utility vehicles in its lineup. The brand exports models like the XUV 7XO, Scorpio N, and even the Scorpio Getaway to markets such as Africa and Australia.
Apart from SUVs, Mahindra has also ventured into other businesses. Did you know that Mahindra has a division in the United Arab Emirates? It is not about selling cars but a separate arm called Mahindra Emirates Vehicle Armouring (MEVA), which specialises in the production of armoured vehicles. Mahindra is not only selling the Pik-Up in the UAE but is also bulletproofing or armouring Toyota Land Cruiser LC300s and vehicles from other brands.
Mahindra Emirates Vehicle Armouring FZ LLC (MEVA) is an arm of the Mahindra Group that was established after the company collaborated with Arabia Holdings Limited and RAK Transport Investment Company.
This joint venture has manufacturing facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. As the name suggests, MEVA specialises in the design and manufacturing of armoured vehicles. Apart from armouring cars, Mahindra also produces special-purpose tactical vehicles and civilian luxury armoured SUVs.
Armouring a vehicle is an extremely critical task, and Mahindra’s solutions comply with international standards, including VPAM and CEN ballistic certifications.
Toyota Land Cruisers are extremely popular in that region of the world, and it is only natural for Mahindra to build an armoured version of the Toyota LC300. This is the latest generation of the Land Cruiser, which has an extremely long waiting period worldwide.
MEVA reinforces stock LC300s with precision-grade materials and safety systems to offer strong protection without compromising drivability. Such vehicles are designed for VIPs, wealthy businessmen, diplomats, and even security forces for high-risk situations.
Coming to protection, the Mahindra Emirates Vehicle Armouring division offers Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs with VPAM VR7 Edition 3 certification. For those unaware, this is currently one of the highest internationally accepted standards for ballistic protection. Vehicles with this level of protection can withstand 7.62×51 mm NATO rounds, which are commonly used in automatic weapons like the AK-47. These vehicles are also CEN B6 and B7 rated.
This means the vehicle can protect occupants from assault rifles and offer higher-grade protection, including resistance to sniper rifle-level threats. It also features multi-layered ballistic protection, where multiple composite and steel layers provide superior resistance, especially in ambush or crossfire scenarios.
Apart from armouring the exterior shell, Mahindra also offers protection for the engine, battery, and ECU. These components are secured with reinforced housings to prevent damage during attacks. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are custom-built to prevent combustion or leakage during ballistic threats.
Mahindra also offers a run-flat tyre system, which allows the vehicle to continue driving for up to 50 km even after tyre deflation. These vehicles can also be equipped with military-grade communication systems, a backup power network, and a battery isolation system. Additional features include shield-safe high-grade passenger protection, a fire extinguisher system, and a stealth mode that disables all visible lights and markers.