Jaguar Land Rover denies claims of Range Rovers being the most-stolen vehicles in the UK

Jaguar Land Rover's CEO, Adrian Mardell, has refuted claims that his company's vehicles are particularly susceptible to theft. He argued that the Range Rover is not "Britain's most stolen vehicle", following reports highlighting rising insurance costs for owners in the UK. Mardell criticized the insurance industry for not considering all available data when determining coverage and premiums. To address the issue, JLR launched its own insurance last year after some drivers were unable to obtain coverage. Mardell expressed frustration with accusations against his business, asserting that while vehicle theft by organized criminals is a serious problem in the UK, his company has been unjustly targeted. Reports, including one from Bloomberg, suggested that the Range Rover Velar model was the most stolen car in the year leading up to March 2023, with over 2% of reported thefts involving this vehicle, based on data from the UK's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. The increasing number of car thefts in recent years has raised concerns among automakers about its potential impact on vehicle demand, particularly for luxury models. Range Rovers, often favored by celebrities, politicians, and even royalty, have received significant attention regarding this issue. Mardell argued that Range Rover thefts decreased by 27% last year compared to 2022 and emphasized that new models are particularly secure. He cited police data, indicating that only 11 vehicles out of a total of 12,800 sold were stolen. Mardell stated that there is no valid reason for insurance companies not to provide coverage for these new vehicles. He also criticized the insurance industry for being slow to respond to available data. Additionally, JLR announced a £10 million investment in vehicle security to combat keyless thefts. The company has already spent £15 million updating older vehicles with advanced security software that prevents thieves from cloning remote car keys. Furthermore, JLR is funding police analysts and collaborating with the government to advocate for legal changes that would make the technology utilized by criminal gangs illegal. The company is also providing funds to police authorities to enhance security at ports and deter the exportation of stolen vehicles.