Ready for the unexpected with Volvo armoured cars

Soft on the inside, tough on the outside – that’s true for all Volvo cars. But with our armoured cars, we kick the toughness up a notch.

They’re built with advanced armouring materials and reinforced structures to provide reliable protection for officials, special clients and any customer needing extra security.

All our armoured cars are ballistically certified, and feature specially developed laminated armoured glass, ballistically engineered aramid, stainless steel plates, reinforced brakes, and heavy-duty wheels.

For our team building the car, it’s not just about adding materials when armouring – it’s about ensuring the highest standards of protection while maintaining the driving experience and safety features you’ve come to expect of a Volvo car.

Take the armoured XC90 plug-in hybrid for example: it has the same set of sensors, radars and cameras as the standard version. It comes with Google built-in, all-wheel drive, and can go up to 67km* on a single charge when in electric mode.

The fact that it has extra protection doesn’t make it stand out – on the outside, it looks like any other new XC90 on the street. That combination of discretion and security is what brings peace of mind for our customers.

The armouring process and materials
The first step in the armouring process is to disassemble our standard XC90 and install armoured parts that seamlessly integrate with the car’s original structure.

By aligning the armouring process closely with the car’s design, integration is more efficient and adds less overall weight compared to typical retrofitting.

First, we apply aramid – a type of synthetic fibre made from plastics that are heat-resistant and tough. You might know it as the key material in bulletproof vests.

Aramid is incredibly strong for its weight, doesn’t melt under high heat and can absorb a lot of energy from impacts. Because of this, we use layers of it around the car, including the roof, for maximum protection.

And on top of the aramid, we reinforce the body with custom-made stainless-steel parts to give extra protection to otherwise vulnerable points like joints, overlaps and pillars. Thanks to our extensive in-house testing, we know exactly where to strengthen the structure – insights that retrofitters often lack, which can result in missed weak points.

Next, we replace all windows with specially developed laminated armoured glass. It’s made by layering multiple sheets of regular glass and strong plastic materials together.

These layers are bonded tightly so that if the glass is hit or broken, it doesn’t shatter into sharp pieces. Instead, it holds together, absorbing the force of the impact. The 19mm thick glass does not interfere with the existing safety systems and cameras and is engineered to maximise protection while retaining excellent visibility.

Testing and ballistic certification
Once the armouring process is complete, we conduct automotive tests, including durability simulations of various road conditions to make sure that each car meets our high safety standards.

The ballistic testing is certified by German ballistic test authority Beschussamt Ulm. The testing involves exposing the car to 300 shots – split between .44 calibre and 9 mm ammunition – at pre-marked positions on the car, where the impact of each shot must meet the required protection standard to pass certification.

Today, Volvo Cars is the only brand with a car that fulfils both the American NIJ IIIA standards and the UK and European standard VPAM BRV 2009.

Why does this matter? In today’s big cities, risks like armed attacks or violent incidents are a reality for some individuals. Our process combines the rigor of both standards to deliver real peace of mind.

We test at different angles, because bullet speed and penetration vary with impact, and we reinforce all overlaps to eliminate any weak points. Meeting both standards means going beyond the required – and that goes hand in hand with our commitment to safety.

Protecting what’s important to you
Whatever your armoured Volvo car is safeguarding you against, it’s designed to provide peace of mind.

The armouring process is detailed and meticulous, ensuring an exceptional driving experience with all the features you’ve come to know and love from Volvo.

Apart from the plug-in hybrid XC90mentioned above, there's also the option of an armoured XC90 with a mild hybrid powertrain, as well as an armoured XC60, our mid-size SUV, with a mild hybrid powertrain.

The Small Print

• *This range figure is preliminary and derives from estimates and calculations performed by Volvo Cars for the armoured Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid and this outcome is not guaranteed. Based on WLTP data, obtained under specific testing conditions, the standard XC90 plug-in hybrid has a range of 71 km, electric energy consumption 12.8 kWh/100km, fuel consumption (combined) 3.5 litre/100km and CO2 emissions (combined) 79 g/km CO2. The driving range, energy and fuel consumption, and CO2 emissions under real conditions vary depending on driving behaviour and other external factors.

   

• Armoured car sales may be subject to trade sanctions and export controls. To make sure we’re following all the rules, all customers in the process of buying an armoured Volvo car will go through a standard sanctions screening. We’ll also check if an export license is needed based on where the car is going or how it’ll be used.

   

• Please note that Volvo armoured cars are currently not available for sale in USA and Canada.