There has been an increase in recent years in the adoption of immobiliser legislation, with Canada imposing requirements in 2007, the more recent laws passed in Malaysia in 2010, and Brazil in 2011. Elsewhere, the harmonisation of ECE regulations is intended to encourage all participating countries to adopt these requirements as a method of achieving a basic mandatory standard that the majority of vehicle manufacturers are already capable of meeting. However, it is usually quicker and easier to introduce requirements sponsored by insurance associations.
Thatcham, the UK insurance research centre, have the strictest of these insurance criteria and are known to be in discussion with a number of countries regarding adopting the Thatcham requirements as part of insurance risk classification of vehicles. Sweden adopted the Thatcham requirements in 2008, and Thailand announced in 2011 that they will use the UK risk classification system.
However it is not always clear what type of immobiliser is required to meet the different legislation and insurance requirements across the world. SBD’s latest report, The comprehensive guide to global immobiliser adoption - requirements and fitment trends 2011, offers a clear explanation of the requirements in force, and what level of performance is the most appropriate in each market. The relative performance of immobilisers is also analysed to explain the difference between meeting minimal legal requirements, and providing a system that can gain insurance benefits, and counter the latest attack methods in use by thieves globally. Although immobiliser fitment is high on new passenger cars, countries with more strict performance requirements have seen the biggest reductions in theft figures.
SBD also recommend that achieving a 5 minute attack test performance should be considered as a design target for all immobilisers. Where additional cost is required to achieve that performance, some low risk markets do not yet justify that investment, but in most developed markets the additional theft protection will be worthwhile. SBD also anticipate an increase in the application of the 5 minute attack test in new insurance requirements.
This report answers the following key questions:
- Which countries mandate immobilisers and what are the fitment rates?
- What are the theft rates before and after immobilisation?
- What performance of immobiliser is required to meet legal requirements, insurance requirements, and to stop thieves?
- What additional benefits exist for higher performance immobilisers?
Read more about The comprehensive guide to global immobiliser adoption - requirements and fitment trends 2011 or to buy this report please contact Kavitha at kkuppuswamy@sbd.co.uk.