Brazil has the dubious distinction of leading the world in armored vehicle sales in 2000, according to research by American Glass Products, a bullt-proof glass producer. Armor companies last year sold 4,000 vehicles in Brazil, ahead of Mexico (2,200), the United States (1,800), and Colombia (1,600). The Brazilian armored vehicle market increased by 33 percent from 3,000 vehicles sold a year earlier. The growth of armored car sales in Brazil in the last few years has seen the number of vehicle armor companies rise from four at the beginning of 1999 to 45 by the end of 2000. Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Fiat, and Volvo also sell armored cars in Brazil. “Brazil and Mexico are our best armored car markets in the world,” said Celso Fogaca, product manager of BMW of Brazil. In 2000 alone, his company sold 61 armored 540 Protection models. It is not just luxury cars, like BMW and Audi, that are sold with armor in Brazil. “Actually, 45 percent of the armored vehicles sold are mid-size models, like the GM Vectra, Fiat Marea, and VW Passat and Golf,” said Vivian Gorgati, commercial director of American Glass Products. Brazilian armor companies anticipate armored vehicle sales to continue their rapid growth. “We expect that armored vehicle sales will rise 20 percent per year in Brazil in the next few years,” said Amaury Belmont, director of O’Gata-Hess & Eisenhardt.