Since we don’t usually do business in those circles, we don’t have a clear idea of how the European crime scene is doing right now. Given all the lockdowns and law enforcement on the streets, we reckon people in this industry don’t have it easy either. And for those working in the stealing (from) cars sector, things are about to get even nastier.
American carmaker Ford announced it is starting the rollout of another feature for the FordPass Pro app for commercial vehicle operators. Called Guard Mode, it is supposed to monitor and report every time something fishy is going on.
More to the point, using the vehicles’ sensors, the system can detect when someone enters without permission, opens the hood or the doors, or starts the engine. Once such a thing is detected, a notification is sent to the owners, showing data such as the time of the incident, the reason for alarms, and the vehicle’s last known location.
Ford says the alerts can be triggered even when a cloned key is used to start the engine, as once activated, the system kind of knows the rightful owner is not around.
“Our vans help keep our customers moving and the tools inside keep them working,” said in a statement Mark Harvey, director, Enterprise Connectivity, Ford of Europe.
“FordPass Pro and Guard Mode help owners protect their vehicles – and their businesses – by keeping them one step ahead of the criminals. And this is just the start. As all new vehicles now come connected, we see huge potential in developing additional security features to help our customers’ businesses thrive.”
Ford will activate Guard Mode with an over-the-air update (apparently the first of its kind in Europe), progressively rolled out across the lineup. The carmaker does not say precisely when the rollout is expected to start.
Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies. Full profile
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