Always a demand for bulletproof cars

Abhisit is perhaps the one of the few Thai PMs who encountered such a strong and serious attack.

First his motorcade was attacked on April 7 as he left a Cabinet meeting at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya. Second, his car was attacked at the Interior Ministry on April 12 - the day he imposed a state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

Initially, Abhisit was using a BMW, but after the Pattaya attack, he switched to a bulletproof Mercedes Benz S600 Guard. And it was thanks to this very Mercedes that he escaped getting injured from the red-shirt attackers.

The red shirts were attacking the car with stones, poles and plant pots, but nothing could damage it. The vehicle has been sent to Germany for repairs, and the premier is using another bulletproof Mercedes, with the added security of a bulletproof vest.

Perhaps Abhisit should be thanking ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who believed he would be killed during his time in office and ordered the purchase of three bulletproof Mercedes for Bt25 million each. That was the first time a Thai prime minister used a bulletproof car, and after that they have become a norm and were used by many other PMs after Thaksin, as well as visiting foreign leaders and VIP guests.

Considering the specs of the Mercedes, it is no wonder that Abhisit managed to escape unscathed.

The car is made up of approximately 500 steel elements, offering perfect driving attributes, comfort and high-level protection. Unlike cars with imbedded armour, this model is fully armoured and built to each customer's specifications.

The bulletproof glass and steel are designed to thwart gunfire and protect the passengers from rifles, handguns and all military-standard small arms in general. Passengers are also protected from grenade fragments as well. The run-flat tyres help the car easily escape from the attack zone. Plus, the Mercedes Benz S600 Guard includes the option of an emergency fresh-air system, so the outside atmosphere can be blocked in case there is a chemical attack.

Meanwhile, the BMW camp this week launched a new generation security vehicle called X5 Security Plus. The vehicle complies with requirements of bullet-resistance Class 6, bringing versatile mobility and comprehensive protection against criminal assault.

It is the first vehicle that offers security against the world's most widely used handgun, the AK-47.

Automobile manufacturer Ford has also stepped into the fray and yesterday offered two bulletproof cars for Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thausuban's security guards, to try.

Eight years ago, the global sales volume of bulletproof cars was 4,000 units per year, but by last year this increased to 18,000 units.

Apparently, bulletproof cars at barely suffering from the economic slowdown because they are high in demand in countries facing unrest.