Luxury car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has revealed its proactive role in combating the escalating wave of car thefts targeting its vehicles. With a £15 million investment, JLR is funding a police crackdown on thefts, addressing concerns about the security lapses at British ports.
Adrian Mardell, JLR’s CEO, emphasized the inadequacy of current police checks, allowing criminals to smuggle stolen vehicles, including Range Rovers, abroad. The company’s intervention aims to strengthen security measures at ports, where stolen cars are believed to be shipped to sanctioned countries, contributing to thriving black markets.
The surge in car thefts has led to challenges in insurance coverage, with premiums soaring and some customers facing denials. Mardell pointed out that the issue is not exclusive to JLR, citing statistics that show other luxury car brands like BMW and Mercedes are also targets of organized criminal activity.
To address the situation, JLR is contributing undisclosed funding to support police operations at ports, highlighting the company’s commitment to tackling the issue head-on. Mardell acknowledged the need for a national conversation about private companies financing law enforcement, emphasizing the societal impact of addressing this problem.
As part of the £15 million investment, JLR is also focusing on security upgrades, marketing campaigns, and intelligence sharing with insurers. The company aims to dispel concerns about its cars becoming uninsurable by working closely with insurers to adjust premiums based on more recent and specific data.
JLR’s marketing campaign encourages owners of cars made between 2018 and 2022 to visit local garages for free security upgrades. The company is also urging owners of older models to explore additional security measures. Mardell emphasized that only a small proportion of newer models have been stolen, providing data to lobby insurers for fairer premiums.
Despite the challenges in the automotive security landscape, JLR posted significant profits of £627 million for the three months ending on December 31, marking its most substantial quarterly profit since 2017. The Home Office stressed the importance of taking vehicle crime seriously and acknowledged the progress made in reducing such crimes since 2010.
