Come October and all passenger vehicles, including the ubiquitous small car, will be mandated by law to offer standard anti-theft.

SECURITY SOLUTIONS

CARS would be getting safer very soon, at least on paper. The government’s latest drive for mandatory installation of anti-theft systems in all passenger vehicles in the next few months is likely to impart some sense of security to the owners. The notification to this effect is expected in October this year following which auto companies would be asked to strap a standard anti-theft system on all vehicles within the next six months period.

Some standard in the anti-theft systems would be a great relief to owners of cars who are now forced to park their vehicles on roads and unmanned parking lots, which are potentially the most vulnerable areas for vehicle theft. Currently passenger vehicles come fitted with a simple steering lock, which has not proved to be an effective deterrant, while any additional security gizmos are optional and could be strapped on after the delivery of the vehicle.

Automotive Research Association of India senior deputy director M K Chaudhari told Auto Mania: “We have already finalised the standards for the fitments in smaller vehicles (passenger car and light mini-trucks), which are most prone to theft. The entire process to notify these anti-theft systems is under active consideration and is in the last phase. There was great need to install some sense of security in the customers and bring in standard equipment as in developed markets.”

The ‘automotive industry standards (AIS)’ to strap anti-theft devices on passenger cars and light mini trucks — up to two tonnes — have been finalised by the ARAI. Matching European ECE norms, where all anti-theft system comes as a factory fitted feature, while after-market ‘theft-deterrent systems’ are not accepted, a comprehensive set of anti-theft auto standards from ARAI is expected to be a combination of both vehicle alarm system (VAS) and engine immobilizers for the Indian vehicles.

In the absence of any mandatory provisions few car companies have already moved ahead to standardise these equipment on their machines. In the volume players of the Indian passenger car market, currently Maruti Udyog and the premium car maker Honda Siel Car India are the only companies to standardise their entire range, while Mahindra-Renault has it in its Logan sedan range and Ford Motor India is offering different types of security equipment on select models.

However, in the absence of any clear norms for any standard equipment to be strapped in all vehicles, companies are avoiding anti-theft systems because of cost issues involved.
Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) plans to introduce the security systems in a phased manner but may go for an expensive option with its much superior satellite based GPRS security system. The company is already experimenting with the different security toys and is currently offering it as a genuine after-sale accessory to the customers.
“We are evaluating the entire situation. These are issues of costs involved, which could jack up the entire cost. We are looking at the norms to be mandated shortly and gradually offer standard security equipment on our products currently coming in our top-end Sonata Sedan. Other cars starting from premium sedan Elantra to the Santro hatchback would be loaded with these anti-theft systems after the anti-theft norms are notified,” an HMIL spokesperson said.

Tata Motors, the second largest player in the passenger vehicles segment (including utility vehicles like Sumo and Safari), is planning to launch these systems once it launches the new Indica and Indigo platform in the domestic market. “It’s better we standardise these systems on our new range of cars, which would hit the market sometime next year. These platforms are currently under development and we are planning to adopt state-of-the-art anti-theft system in our modern cars,” said a senior executive of Tata Motors.

The entire bouquet of these anti-theft systems can be a blessing for the customer, which would allow them to absorb some cost. The insurance companies do offer lucrative rebates on premium for the customers. Already companies are offering a rebate of Rs 500 on the annual premium charges on cars equipped any form of anti-theft equipment.
The anti-theft security systems market is also expected to receive a big boost with the legislation. The market, which is currently hovering around Rs 450 crore, is expected to shoot up to Rs 1000 crore in the next three years. Already technical tie-ups and joint ventures are making their way in to tap the potential domestic market.

One of the largest players in automotive security, Minda Locking Systems, has already entered into a joint-venture with the 11 billion euro company, French security major, Valeo Group. Its managing director Sanjay Thapar told Auto Mania, “Once these systems are mandated, we are expecting a major demand for these from the original equipment manufacturers and the after sales market. We could see the market breaching the Rs 1000 crore mark by 2010, with the domestic sales of passenger vehicles and mini-trucks expected to reach over 2 million units and each required to have these anti-theft system. Once the volumes are generated we would be able to scale up the production and offer better prices in the highly sensitive domestic market as customers are not willing to shell out the extra amount.”

India has one of the highest vehicle theft rates in the world. With one vehicle being stolen every five minutes, the National Crime Records Bureau put the total loss estimates to around Rs 1,000 crore. Now to meet the challenges of the growing menace, where vehicle thefts have recorded an average increase of 25% in the past five years, car companies will load up their models with some fancy security gizmos. For you it will simply mean peace of mind. Hopefully at not too steep a cost.

Source: Times Auto