How high is the theft rate for Tesla and EVs?

Discussion
1

So, in my area (Ontario, Canada), there’s a lot of talk about car theft, especially among luxury and newer vehicles. Thankfully, my old 2010 Toyota Yaris doesn’t draw too much attention.

But I’m considering an EV for my next car, maybe even a Tesla if prices become reasonable and battery reliability improves. Just curious if anyone has any info on how safe Teslas and other EVs are from theft?

Also, what’s the cost for basic connectivity each month, and how does it work? I’m not really interested in premium options since I don’t drive much post-Covid.

2

EVs in general aren’t popular targets. A lot of chop shops don’t want them because there’s less demand for parts, and since most Canadian EVs use North American charging standards, it’s harder to sell them in overseas markets where EV charging is still developing.

3

@jabali
Plus, they can be tracked or even shut down remotely, which is a big deterrent.

4

@jabali
There’s actually a way some EVs have been stolen in Europe with something called a Game Boy attack—essentially a high-tech, wireless lockpick. It’s been reported on e-GMP models, but it’s not really common in Canada yet since most illegal exporters aren’t looking for EVs.

5

@olivia
Interesting… I’ve always wondered where stolen cars end up. Are there certain countries that have a higher demand?

6

sorphia said:
@olivia
Interesting… I’ve always wondered where stolen cars end up. Are there certain countries that have a higher demand?

Africa and the Middle East are often top destinations for stolen Japanese-brand SUVs from Canada.

7

@olivia
Exactly, and the specific ports on EVs also make them easier to track, and it’s harder for thieves to blend them into foreign markets.

8

@olivia
When cars do get stolen, they’re often taken apart quickly and shipped to places like Lithuania. There was even a case where German police intercepted a stolen Tesla in pieces on its way to Eastern Europe.

9

@olivia
Hearing that EVs can get stolen that way is a bit of a bummer. I thought Teslas were safe from that stuff.

10

Christopher said:
@olivia
Hearing that EVs can get stolen that way is a bit of a bummer. I thought Teslas were safe from that stuff.

Don’t worry! That particular method mostly affects push-button cars in general, not just EVs or Teslas. And Teslas have specific features that make them harder to steal.

11

@olivia
There is a weak spot, though: the GPS connector on the Ioniq 5 is easy to access, so thieves could disconnect it right away.

12

@olivia
Interestingly, Teslas are avoided by car thieves due to their trackability and remote security features. They’re just more trouble than they’re worth.

13

@jabali
One thing you can do is turn off auto unlock/start. Tesla has an option to require pressing the key fob before it starts, which adds a layer of security against signal repeaters.

14

Kenneth said:
@jabali
One thing you can do is turn off auto unlock/start. Tesla has an option to require pressing the key fob before it starts, which adds a layer of security against signal repeaters.

Some newer models, like the Kia Tasman, now have a motion sensor in the key fob that deactivates it when it’s been still for a while. Hopefully, more car makers add this soon!