In recent years, the Range Rover has gained the unenviable accolade of being among Britain’s most-stolen cars.
DVLA data ranks the previous-generation Range Rover as the second-most stolen vehicle between 2019 and 2022. This included more than 5,000 Range Rovers being taken without their owners’ consent in 2022 alone.
However, an investment of £10 million in new technology by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has led to a rapid reduction in the number of vehicles being stolen.
Free updates for previous models
Around 65,000 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models built between 2018 and 2022 have received security upgrades at Land Rover dealerships. The result has been a dramatic 40 percent reduction in the number of these vehicles being stolen.
The updates included changes to the Body Control Module, which help to prevent thieves from taking the car without a key.
Land Rover has continued to contact owners of eligible models, encouraging them to arrange to have the complimentary software upgrades applied. Vehicles that are outside their factory warranty period are eligible, too.
Stepping up security
Along with improving the theft-resistance of older SUVs, JLR has also ensured the latest Range Rover and Range Sport models exceed the security standards set by industry experts, Thatcham.
Since January 2022, just 0.07 percent of new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models in the UK have been stolen. In addition, only 0.3 percent of new Defenders have been subject to theft.
Patrick McGillycuddy, MD of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “While vehicle theft in the UK is affecting the whole car industry, at JLR we understand the negative impact this can have on the ownership experience for our clients. Our investment of more than £10 million demonstrates our ongoing commitment to tackling this issue”.
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