One of the features of the ever more connected car is that carmakers are increasingly ‘over the air’ in charge of many functions, writes Brian Byrne.
In the same way that we have got used to the operating systems in our phones and computers being automatically updated across the internet, this is happening in many of the latest new cars which are ‘always on’ connected to base by proprietary online systems. For extra services owners can subscribe via a monthly fee.
But that electronic ‘street’ is very much a two-way thing, and the extra services can be disabled if the subscription is ceased.
Ford is one manufacturer looking at bringing that control a step further. In the US is is trying to patent a system for disabling a car over the air if the buyer hasn’t kept up repayments on the vehicle.
The company’s application for a patent titled "Systems and Methods to Repossess a Vehicle" was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) last week.
Looks like the ‘Repo Man’ is the latest trade to be heading for redundancy thanks to technology.
