The US Patent Office last week published an application for a patent by Ford innocuously titled “Systems and Methods to Repossess a Vehicle”, which comes straight out of a dystopian sci-fi movie.
The application entails systems in terms of which vehicles, for all practical purposes, would be able to repossess themselves should their owners renege on payments.
According to the document, vehicles’ built-in data connections could be used to disable “a functionality of one or more components of the vehicle” in case of missed payments. This could take different forms from deactivating features like “cruise control, automated window controls, automated seat controls and some components of the infotainment system (radio Global Positioning System (GPS), MP3 player, etc)” to functions such as “the air-conditioning system, a remote key fob and an automated door lock/unlock system” and other incessant irritating warnings.
The most disconcerting feature of the system though, in the case of self-autonomous vehicles, is that with Ford's system, your car could drive itself away to a different location without even informing you.
It is unclear whether Ford is planning to follow through on the patents since it is currently not actively pursuing self-drive technology.
Other auto manufacturers already feature similar technology in their vehicles.
It has come to the attention of Knysna Speed Festival, the owner of the Simola Hillclimb, that Zwartkops Raceway has used Simola Hillclimb’s event regulations for its Top of the Hill event to be held in October.
Continuing the company’s founding vision of Being the Best, is the responsibility of the third generation of Emanuel brothers leading two divisions of the KwaZulu-Natal-based (KZN) automotive mobility group.
BMW Group Financial Services South Africa has announced the appointment of Roger Rooden (photo) as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of BMW Group Financial Services South Africa.
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If you are not taking care of your customer, your competitor will.
Bob Hooey
It has come to the attention of Knysna Speed Festival, the owner of the Simola Hillclimb, that Zwartkops Raceway has used Simola Hillclimb’s event regulations for its Top of the Hill event to be held in October.
BMW Group Financial Services South Africa has announced the appointment of Roger Rooden (photo) as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of BMW Group Financial Services South Africa.
As the world commemorates International Literacy Day on Sunday, 08 September 2024, Ford South Africa reaffirms its commitment to tackling the literacy crisis in the country through its enduring legacy projects.
