Owners of new Fiat Ducato and E-Ducato vans will receive a text message if their vehicle is stolen.
Offered as part of the Fiat Professional My Uconnect app, the Theft Assistance feature can detect a potential break-in.
The app also alerts the owner if the van is towed without authorisation, or if the battery is disconnected.
It comes as recent Office for National Statistics figures reveal that more than 92,000 vehicles were stolen in the UK last year. Vans accounted for seven of the top 10 stolen vehicles.
Find My Fiat Ducato
Fiat Professional’s Theft Assistance function will send a text message to the owner, and can also send an email alert. App notifications, or receiving a phone call, can also warn owners of a theft.
Once alerted, a Fiat My Assistance operator will locate the GPS coordinates for the van. This works similarly to the ‘find my phone’ function on modern smartphones, allowing owners to track their van.
Fiat says its latest technology also allows the police to track a stolen van.
When the van stops moving, the engine will automatically be immobilised and the ignition disabled.
Peace of mind for professionals
Richard Chamberlain, managing director of Fiat Professional said: “Knowing a vehicle is stolen roughly every 10 minutes in England and Wales is a cause for concern and an experience that owners will be looking to avoid at all costs.
“This innovative theft assistance technology will undoubtedly give both current and future owners of the Ducato and E-Ducato peace of mind that their van and possessions are in the safest possible hands.”
Theft Assistance is offered as part of the free My Uconnect app, available across the range of Fiat Professional vans. Numerous services can be accessed via an Apple or Android smartphone, or through the van’s own Uconnect multimedia screen.
Crash assistance, roadside assistance and navigation functions are included, too. Owners of the electric E-Ducato can also get support with finding charging devices.
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