Ford Fights Car Theft with Remote Engine-Off Technology via App

Ford F-250 truck / PHOTO: Ford

JAKARTA - Vehicle theft cases are still a scourge in various countries. Throughout 2024, more than 850 thousand vehicles were reported stolen in the United States (US), with total losses estimated at US $8 billion for vehicle owners and insurance companies.

One of the models that is most often targeted is the Ford F-150. Based on data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, nearly 5 thousand units of Ford's flagship pickup truck disappeared in the first six months of 2024.

Facing this situation, Ford began to take serious steps by introducing a new safety technology called Start Inhibit. This technology is touted as the most advanced development of vehicle tracking and security concepts such as LoJack, which is adapted to the digital era.

Start Inhibit was first introduced on the 2024 Ford F-150 model and is now being gradually applied to other Ford models. Starting in 2025, this feature is also available on the F-250.

The selection of these two models is not without reason, considering that both are the backbone of Ford's sales and are also among the most sought-after vehicles, even by thieves. To use Start Inhibit, vehicle owners must activate the FordPass application.

Through this application, users can turn off the vehicle engine remotely. This feature still works even if the thief manages to duplicate the key or steal the original vehicle key.

The Start Inhibit service is provided free of charge for the first year, before being charged a subscription fee of 7.99 US dollars per month, or the equivalent of Rp. 132 thousand. In addition to the ability to disable the engine, this system also sends an alert to the owner.

The warning is given if there is an attempt to enter without permission, open the door, or suspicious movement, so that the owner gets an early warning before the vehicle is taken too far. The main advantage of Start Inhibit is not only in its remote control, but also in its integration with law enforcement.

When a vehicle is reported missing, the Ford call center will verify the report with the police. Next, Ford works with officers to track the vehicle's position, deactivate it, and direct the investigation to the last location.

"Usually, within an hour we try as hard as possible to get the vehicles back," said Detroit Police Auto Theft Officer Ibrahim Kakish.

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He said a quick response often makes vehicles found in good condition. As reported by Carscoops, Saturday, December 13.

Conceptually, this service has similarities with the Ford Pro Telematics system used for asset tracking. The system relies on GPS and software to monitor various assets such as trailers, generators, and other work equipment.

However, Start Inhibit also has a number of notes. This feature is entirely dependent on the FordPass application, which means users must agree to Ford's terms and conditions, including permission to access various personal data.

Some data, such as GPS location and ignition system status, is considered crucial for the service to run optimally. However, there are also questions about Ford's need to access other data, including information on applications installed on users' mobile phones.