SVI and Ford teaming up Ford South Africa and SVI Engineering announced factory-approved armoured protection for the carmaker's Ranger - a first for any original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the country. Both companies are aiming the armoured protection option at private and fleet customers. With more than 18 000 vehicle hijackings recorded annually in South Africa, according to the South African Police Service Annual Crime Statistics for 2019/20, Ford says it makes sense to add another layer of safety for customers in the form of ballistic protection. SVI Engineering was formed in 2004 as a mechanical engineering and rapid-product development firm with capabilities in product design, finite element analysis, development, product evaluation and manufacturing of armoured products for the military, security, and civilian markets.