Paul Obanua, Chairman of Texas Armoured Direct, Inc., has introduced a new line of armoured vehicles under the Rhodium45 brand, offering ultra-luxury features and BR6-level ballistic protection aimed at ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

Obanua described the Rhodium45 Ultra-Luxury Armoured Supercar as “a command centre on wheels,” equipped with presidential-level armouring, a 42-inch partition TV, motion-compatible Starlink internet, champagne regenerators, and bullet- and grenade-proof protection. Each unit is hand-built using Italian leather and incorporates 360-degree cameras and fibre optic skylighting.

“You are not buying a Rhodium45 because you need transportation. You are buying it because you can afford luxury and the finer things in life,” Obanua said.

Obanua explained that the vehicles begin as chassis from premium manufacturers such as Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and General Motors. After procurement, the vehicles undergo extensive conversion to meet BR6 standards, which includes the addition of ballistic materials weighing up to 2,000 pounds.

“There are higher levels of protection, but they are not necessary for civilian use,” he said.

Texas Armoured Direct operates as the parent company to Rhodium45, which Obanua says is being developed into a standalone brand akin to Cadillac under General Motors.

Obanua, who previously ran GetGo Charter Inc., has been active in the mobility and haulage space since 2004. He said his past experiences—from running cement haulage operations to developing car rental fleets—have shaped the company’s evolution.

Founded in 2023, Texas Armoured Direct is based in the United States and aims to become an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) within two years. “We will not be buying chassis from Cadillac anymore because we will have our own chassis,” Obanua said, adding that the company has registered Rhodium45 R&D to drive material science innovation in lightweight ballistic materials.

“Our ultimate goal is to make armoured cars mainstream—just like seatbelts or airbags became standard,” he said.

While the company’s primary market remains the U.S., Obanua confirmed growing interest from international buyers, especially in Nigeria, Mexico, and Brazil. “Nigeria is not a market you can ignore,” he noted.

Obanua said the company conducts Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks to screen clients. “Our brand is not for everybody. We don’t even sell to everybody,” he said.

On after-sales support, Obanua confirmed the company maintains local partnerships in export markets, including Nigeria. “The local capacity is there. Nigeria is a very robust market full of skilled hands,” he said.

Regarding sustainability and future development, Obanua revealed that Texas Armoured Direct is pursuing hybrid bulletproof vehicles rather than fully electric ones due to current weight constraints.

“If you’re going EV, the battery is a lot of weight and you don’t want to put another 2,000 pounds of armour on that,” he said.

He added that the company is researching lighter ballistic materials that could enable future electric models.

Obanua concluded that the Rhodium45 product line integrates lessons from his 30-year entrepreneurial career. “All these experiences are what I’m pouring into Rhodium45. It is not a fad,” he said.