Free retrofit to older models
The brand commits to providing the latest security system to the models produced after 2018. These models include Range Rovers, Range Rover Sports, Defenders, Discoveries and Jaguars, including the one falling out of warranty coverage, free of charge. The carmaker claims that the new security system is far less susceptible to relay attacks and should drastically decrease the theft rate of its models.
The new security system brings updates to the vehicle’s existing body control module (BCM), which prevents thieves from driving away without a key. The new security system already does duty on the latest Range Rover SUVs and the Defender. Reports claim that since January 2022, only 0.07 per cent of the new Range Rover SUVs and 0.3 per cent of the Defender SUVs have been stolen which were equipped with the new security system.
Jaguar Land Rover claims to have already retrofitted over 65,000 older vehicles with the latest security system. The carmaker is trying to reach out to the owners of the remaining older cars that are prone to theft. It is worth mentioning that the security system is only retrofitted to the models produced between 2018 and 2022. Models manufactured before 2018 do not comply with the security system while the ones manufactured after 2022 already boast the latest system.
What led to this situation
Reports claim that over 5,500 Range Rover SUVs were stolen in 2022, making the flagship SUV model the most stolen vehicle in the UK. The stolen cars posted a year-on-year increase of over 47% back in 2022. As a result, insurance companies began to deny extending the insurance coverage for Range Rover SUVs.
With a large chunk of JLR offerings already secured with the security update, and following the brand’s efforts to reach out to the owners of the remaining models and fix the security system, it is safe to assume that the theft rate should see a drastic drop in the UK and other markets which are prone to increasing vehicle thefts.