According to NMVTRC Chairman, David Morgan, the label adopted first by Hyundai and Nissan represents a major breakthrough in setting a new baseline in vehicle identification. |
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The NMVTRC estimates that the cloning or re-identification of stolen vehicles returns criminals tens of millions of dollars annually.
Mr Morgan said, “There is no doubt that the traditionally poor standard of vehicle identification has played right into the hands of criminals by making it just too easy to convert a stolen vehicle into cash and making it almost impossible for authorities to later detect suspect vehicles with any certainty”, he said.
“The NMVTRC has been calling on Australian vehicle manufacturers to lift their game on vehicle identification for years so its particularly relevant that in the latest annual security ratings released today by NRMA locally produced, brand new model ranges such as Commodore and Falcon have been out-performed by an affordable Korean import in their traditionally biggest market segment”, Mr Morgan said.
He said the $2 label had been instrumental to lifting the Hyundai Grandeur to the top of the large car class. “At a cost of just $2 this is something that all manufacturers should be adopting right now”.
Mr Morgan said the NMVTRC was also pleased to see that manufacturers such as Subaru and Audi which had led the way in adopting microdot identification were again rewarded by winning their respective classes in the medium, SUV and luxury categories.
The new security label, developed by Identitek Systems in Melbourne, incorporates a number of unique security features which ensures that it cannot be transferred between vehicles without easy detection, cannot be copied and is easy to authenticate in the field. The NMVTRC says that that the Identitek label is the only label to have passed independent testing against its exacting technical specification.
The NMVTRC is a joint initiative of all Australian Governments and the insurance industry.
Hi-res images of the label and application process can be downloaded from the media section of the NMVTRC’s website at www.carsafe.com.au
A full list of the most secure vehicles by class is available on the NRMA website.
Media Release No. 139
7 July 2008 |
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