Protected Vehicles, Inc. in dire straits

Protected Vehicles, Inc., the company started up in the shadow of Force Protection, has apparently found itself bogged down with financial woes. The company did secure an order for 60 of its Golan vehicle and another 100 Alpha vehicles with the latter order getting canceled after performance testing.

The company has not been able to deliver the Golan vehicles at the required pace.

The North Charleston-based manufacturer, which abruptly closed its doors and ceased operations earlier this month, received a $37.45 million order from the federal government on Feb. 23 for 60 of its Golan mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles.

Under the terms of the order, production was to be completed by July. But as of Dec. 26, Protected Vehicles had delivered just 10 vehicles, Defense Department spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin said in an e-mailed statement.

Efforts were made to help the company fulfill its order, Irwin said, but "these efforts were not successful."

(The Post and Courier, Charleston)

The Pentagon has moved to cancel the remainder of the order.

PVI has filed for protection from creditors and failed on occasion to meet payroll obligations, according to the story, but also has plans to continue developing plans for its "Beast" and "Ridgeback" vehicles after laying off non-essential personnel.

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