Volvo Deploys Anti-Theft Car Tracker

Volvo has teamed up with Vodafone Automotive to launch internet of things trackers that can be retrofitted onto all of its automotive products.

The GPS tracker, priced at around $787, uses Vodafone’s VTS S5 connectivity module and a connected car protocol from Trinsic Connected Car to pinpoint a Volvo vehicle’s location to an accuracy of 10 meters.

Drivers receive the location in real time using a smartphone app, which also includes a history of earlier journeys and GPS directions to the car, wherever the person is located.

The technology also helps to prevent theft. An identity card issued to the genuine owner of the vehicle is inserted whenever they’re driving, raising an alert as soon as an unauthorized person hits the ignition.

Volvo’s device also incorporates IoT sensors that detect attempts to tow the vehicle or if someone has meddled with the car battery, before extracting minute-by-minute records for police investigators.

Drivers can also switch the anti-theft system off, for instance, if the car is at a repair yard.

“Should you happen to fall victim to vehicle theft, our stolen vehicle tracking technology puts you in the best possible position to locate and recover your car,” said Vodafone’s UK Business Director Nick Gliddon. “We are delighted that companies like Volvo are using our technology and connectivity to help their customers when they need it most.”

Volvo registered an 8.8% increase in automotive products sales volumes in the first 11 months of this year, having sold 634,237 compared with 582,997 in January to November 2020.

Around half (42%) of the company’s sales come from Europe, although the Financial Times reported it was looking to seize U.S. market share with an electric vehicle campaign underpinned by its $3 billion partnership with battery maker Northvolt.

Vendors often submit car trackers for evaluation by the motor insurers research center Thatcham Research, which operates a grading scale to assess their capabilities.

Vodafone’s connectivity module received the S5 designation, which highlights connected car trackers with post-theft monitoring and automatic driver recognition systems.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the connected car protocol was from New York-based Trinsic. The story has been corrected to reflect it was Trinsic Connected Car.