Car theft has been around as long as we’ve had cars, and traditional alarm systems just aren’t as effective as they used to be.
How often do you run to the source of a car alarm when it goes off? Exactly.
As cars get more and more advanced in technology, they become more lucrative targets for car thieves. This has caused high-end automotive manufacturers to brainstorm new ways to combat car theft.
Not surprisingly, Tesla has been leading the way on this front. In recent years, the automobile innovation powerhouse has been creating some of the most pioneering anti-theft devices out there, helping protect its new Model X and other versions from theft.
Tesla Thefts on the Rise
Tesla cars are hot targets for larceny. Thieves have broken into Teslas via key fob hacks and other technological means, sometimes after struggling to unplug or detach the car from its charging station.
Tesla thefts have been on the rise in both the United States and Europe, but with vastly different recovery rates. Although European Teslas are rarely recovered (they are swiftly dismantled and sold for parts), stolen Tesla vehicles in the USA have an almost 100% recovery rate according to the FBI. This is due in large part to some unique security initiatives Tesla is adopting, which are proving to be an unusual, yet effective, deterrent.
But First: Car Alarms
To fully appreciate the cheeky humor behind Tesla’s new theft deterrents, it’s important to understand how existing car security systems work. Most systems consist of an array of sensors that connect to transmitters, which relay information to the security system’s central processing unit. Automobile manufacturers install these sensors on windows and doors, and newer cars also come with pressure, shock, and motion/tilt sensors, as well.
Many existing car alarm systems rely on time delay relay technology to work effectively. Time delay relays act as a sort of sensory organ for mechanical applications. When a sensor is triggered, transmitters relay this incoming stimulus to the central hub, which then determines the appropriate response.
For example, in newer cars, if the system detects the car’s key fob within the car, it knows to turn the car on. If the system detects a suddenly broken window, it knows to trigger the alarm.
Tesla’s New Security Systems
Last month, Elon Musk shared some fresh details about Tesla’s latest theft protection update, which comes with an unexpected twist. Musk tweeted about a music-based feature, which plays Johann Sebastian Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor when the car detects an illegal intrusion attempt. The blaring music attracts bystanders’ attention much more effectively than the usual wailing sirens.
Tesla’s also not afraid to switch it up. New models also offer heavy metal versions of the Bach’s Fugue and Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata for more “hardcore” customers. The Model X can even perform a themed light show to the tune of Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Wizards in Winter” composition, lighting up the whole block and embarrassing potential intruders.
Other Tesla Teases
These newfangled alarms join other theft deterrents in Tesla’s Sentry Mode software package. New security suites include a variety of clever initiatives that can deter thieves and prevent damage. On top of classical music, new Model Xs come with motion-sensing anti-theft systems, in-car dash cams, and upgraded protection systems.
Musk frequently shares updates and teases on Twitter hinting about topics from the above-described classical music deterrent to rumored “Toilet Humor” feature. The official Tesla account on Twitter also mentioned a Romance mode, featuring a faux fireplace with mood music and a heater, designed for the forthcoming update. Fun twists and Easter Eggs are nothing new for the brand—they’re a hallmark of Tesla style and a source of amusement for Elon Musk and his team.
Deterring Tesla Theft
The musical theft alarms join some other initiatives. From pin pads that require you to enter a personal code to start the vehicle to personalized tracking apps that show owners their Tesla’s location at all times, Tesla’s always searching for the next high-tech feature for their equipment.