High-tech plans to disable cars

Ford Motor Company has received a patent for technology that would give it the ability to lock people out of their cars or shut down a vehicle’s power if consumers fall behind on car loan payments.

According to the blue oval’s patent application, the system could also be used if there was a safety issue and would allow it to possibly disable cruise control, air conditioning, remote key fobs or other functions.

Another feature of the technology is causing the vehicle to “emit an incessant and unpleasant sound” when the owner is inside until action is taken to address an issue, reports Automotive News. 

Ford says it has no plans to use the “repossession” technology, noting it submits patents on new inventions as a normal course of business.

The carmaker adds it was granted more than 1,300 patents in 2022 as part of “encouraging a culture of innovation”.