Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has been forced to boost security after a range of car thefts made the manufacturer’s models one of the number one targets among criminals.
Reports have suggested Range Rover machines were becoming “impossible” to insure in some parts of the country as crime rates dramatically soared.
The news has prompted chiefs to take immediate action with new security updates to the Body Control Module (BCM) in an attempt to get a grip of the crisis.
Criminals had previously been hacking the keyless entry system which had allowed them to start the ignition and drive away.
However, JLR claims new embedded technology introduced in a new wave of updates will offer better protection for owners.
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Patrick McGillycuddy, managing director at JLR UK said: “While vehicle theft in the UK is affecting the whole car industry, at JLR we understand the negative impact this can have on the ownership experience for our clients.
“Our investment of more than £10million demonstrates our ongoing commitment to tackling this issue.
“Through our long-standing collaboration with law enforcement and key partners, our expert team will continue to develop and deploy effective anti-theft measures to ensure clients are protected. It is my personal priority.”
JLR has claimed any vehicles manufactured from 2022 onwards are built with advanced electrical architecture and are therefore more resilient to theft.
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Data seems to prove the new technology is paying off with a dramatic decline in crime rates.
Since January 2022, just 0.07 percent of new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models have been stolen. Meanwhile, just 0.3 percent of new Range Rover Defenders have been hit since 2020.
The latest security features can now be deployed onto previous-generation vehicles including those out of warranty.
Over the last couple of years, more than 65,000 eligible vehicles from 2018 have been fitted with the changes.
JLR is carrying out the extensive programme by contacting owners directly. Motorists must then visit an authorised retailer to receive the new features.
JLR has worked in collaboration with security experts Thatcham Research who believe the new approach could cut down on the number of incidents.
Richard Billyeald, Chief Technical Officer at Thatcham Research, explained: “Thatcham Research acknowledges that organised criminality is of serious concern to all vehicle manufacturers.
“Along with Thatcham Research, JLR has actively supported police and other partners, adopting a holistic approach to identify potential security vulnerabilities, and working proactively to close them down.
“We continue to work closely with JLR, including benchmarking of their recently implemented theft countermeasures as examples of security best practice. We are hopeful these measures will limit further theft exposure.”
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