ADG Mobility: the new armoured vehicle kid on the block

6439

Former employees from Land Mobility Technologies (LMT) have created a new armoured vehicle company, ADG Mobility, which is specialising in the design and manufacture of protected vehicles.

ADG Mobility Ltd (ADGM) was formed in January 2017 by the founding members, senior management and engineers of LMT to focus only on development and in-country production for international clients.
“ADGM sees its primary market as clients who are looking for the best protected mobility solutions, but who cannot afford a First World price tag. Our world-class armoured vehicle design and development team is reinforced by state-of-the-art software, support systems and a fully equipped state-of-the-art workshop,” the company says.

Its aim is to focus on the design, development and manufacturing of protected mobility solutions, with the emphasis on 4×4, 6×6 and 8×8 vehicles with high mobility and extreme levels of landmine, IED (improvised explosive device) and ballistic protection. It also offers industrialisation and production solutions, setting up vehicle production factories in country.
“Our senior members have over 32 years’ experience and knowledge of design, development, production and support, in the field of battle-proven 4×4, 6×6 and 8×8 military armoured vehicles. Over the past 17 years, we have successfully completed more than 1 300 projects and spanning over 5 continents. It therefore follows, that ADG Mobility’s entrepreneurial culture is fuelled by innovation with quick turnaround times and a professional service,” the ADGM website said.

ADG Mobility was incorporated in December 2016 with its registered office in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, but is part of the African Defence Group (ADG), which was incorporated on 19 August 2016 in London. However, ADG Mobility has its offices in Sandton, Johannesburg, with the engineering offices and factory in Waltloo, Pretoria.

Directors at ADG Mobility include Pieter Jacobus Wiese (also an African Defence Group director) and Stefan Nell (ADGM CEO).

Nell was formerly CEO of Land Mobility Technologies, which he founded in 1999. He left the company in October 2016 after problems with Denel management (LMT is 51% owned by Denel, with 29% belonging to Pamodzi Investment Holdings and 20% to the founders).

In July 2016 the minority shareholders (founders and Pamodzi) accused Denel of being captured by the Gupta family, after Denel allegedly diverted a contract for the Badger vehicle to VR Laser at the Gupta’s request. The minority shareholders approached the Pretoria High Court to institute business rescue proceedings as the diversion of the Badger infantry fighting vehicle contracts (amounting to R1 billion over ten years) put the company in a difficult financial situation, according to court papers, with LMT struggling to pay salaries and suppliers because of inadequate funding from Denel. The matter was heard on 26 July 2016 but was dismissed with costs, as the matter was not viewed as urgent by the court.

In order to grow the business and establish itself in the international market, ADG Mobility is expanding its staff and is looking for test engineers, project managers, accountants, a receptionist, electrical engineers and automotive design engineers, amongst others.