Jaguar Land Rover is actively working to enhance the security of thousands of its high-end Range Rover vehicles to combat a surge in thefts.
The automaker is updating various models of Land Rover and Jaguar produced from 2018 to 2022 with new security measures following a spike in theft incidents and insurance costs.
Vehicle owners will be notified, with some required to visit dealerships for software updates.
The popularity of Range Rovers for theft in the UK last year was attributed to their lucrative resale value and the vulnerability of their keyless entry systems, which thieves have been exploiting.
Adrian Mardell, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, acknowledged that the company faced a more severe theft issue in 2022 compared to the present.
“Our engineers have been devising and implementing numerous strategies to thwart, prevent, and stay ahead of the methods used to illegally take possession of these vehicles,” Mardell stated.
Criminals have been purchasing technology online that enables them to deceive the vehicles’ security systems, allowing them to unlock and start the cars without a physical key.
The rise in car thefts has been attributed to devices that can replicate the radio frequencies of keyless entry systems across various car models.
Enhancing the complexity of the security codes that operate these vehicles has been a key factor in reducing thefts.
Adrian Mardell, the CEO of Range Rover, noted that since January of the previous year, security measures for Range Rovers have been strengthened, resulting in an exceptionally low theft rate for these vehicles.
Jaguar Land Rover has been cautious about sharing the specifics of its security enhancements due to their delicate nature.
Automobile manufacturers have been reinforcing their software to eliminate vulnerabilities, with vehicles routinely receiving updates wirelessly.
Jaguar Land Rover has collaborated with insurance industry organizations to demonstrate that the issue is being addressed, which is significant after insurance premiums for vehicle owners, especially in metropolitan areas like London, surged into the thousands.
Last month’s analysis by The Telegraph revealed that only a pair of insurers were prepared to offer coverage for a Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic in London.
For the least expensive annual policy, the average quote was £22,515. This was based on a 35-year-old female from London with six years of clean driving history.
Statistics from the previous year show that one percent of Land Rovers were stolen, with Range Rovers comprising six out of the top ten most frequently stolen vehicles. The Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic emerged as the prime target.
Mr. Mardell expressed strong assurance in the enhanced security of the company’s recently sold vehicles compared to those from a few years prior.
He emphasized that the focus on security issues will persist until the trend of thefts is completely eliminated.
A spokesperson for JLR stated that their vehicles, starting from the 2022 models – including the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Defender, and Jaguar F-Pace – are outfitted with advanced security features that have significantly reduced theft incidents.
JLR has been actively updating the security on models dating back to 2018, with many vehicles already benefiting from software enhancements through their retailers. The company plans to reach out to more customers soon regarding these updates.
Earlier this year, Mr. Mardell ascended to the role of CEO at JLR.
JLR stands as the largest car manufacturer in Britain and ranks second after Nissan. The company is gearing up to introduce several new electric vehicles, and its parent company, Tata Motors, has selected the UK for establishing a facility dedicated to producing batteries for these vehicles.
