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New security feature gives cars their own "DNA" In a drive to add value for its customers, Nissan South Africa has introduced a new security feature for all its vehicles sold in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho (member countries of the Southern African Customs Union). Nissan is employing microdot technology, which uses a number of high-tech myriad dots to create a unique identification for each vehicle in an effort to deter vehicle theft. The identification numbers on the microdots only appear when viewed under a low-powered microscope or ultraviolet light making it difficult to determine where they have been placed. About 10 000 dots are sprayed onto at least 88 different loca- tions, hidden and overt, which adds to the difficulty for would-be criminals. In addition to the high number of dots, it would be virtually impossible to remove all of them considering that they are bonded to the vehicle with a strong adhesive spray. Product manager Nadia Trimmel explains that Nissan South Africa is the first car manufacturer to take the microdot technology to the market as a standard feature on all vehicles. Since October 3, 2006, all vehicles produced at the Nissan plant have been equipped with the new security feature. Continued product support and information will be provided by dedicated call centres established to facilitate communication between Nissan and its customers. Currently, the microdots are applied to the vehicles at Nissan's existing facilities. The development associated with the new feature will include a dedicated facility for the microdot application, which should be functional by April this year. Plans are also in place for automation of the application process by October. Trimmel explains that Nissan designs cars and vehicle features with the customer in mind and that these designs aim to cater for customers' needs. She adds that in South Africa, owing to the prevalence of vehicle theft, a security feature such as this responds to the needs of the end-user. Nissan dealers have also under-gone product training and the South African Police Service and the relevant immigration authorities have been equipped with kits that provide the tools to view the microdots. The kits include a UV light and small spotting scope, which are used to track and identify stolen microdotted vehicles or vehicle parts. The name "microdot" is a result of Nissan's rebranding of the technology since it became a standard feature on its vehicles. Nissan sourced the product from local technology company DataDot, which brought the Australian technology to South Africa. DataDot's national operations manager, Chad Thomson, explains that the relationship with Nissan is ongoing and DataDot will be providing continued support to ensure that the integrity of the product is not compromised and that there is continued compliance with established standards and quality requirements. The process of verifying a car's details prior to application of the microdots is made easier through the use of scanners and Bluetooth connectivity. Thomson explains that during the application process a docu- ment is generated with the car's specifications, serial numbers and a microdot sample. This document is kept with the necessary authorities and, in the event of theft or hijacking, is admissible as evidence in court. In the context of the high inci-dence of vehicle theft in South Africa, microdot technology has been welcomed and endorsed by organi- sations in South Africa, including Business Against Crime South Africa (Bacsa), the Vehicle Security Association of South Africa, and the National Vehicle Crime Steering Committee (NVCSC). The NVCSC's members include the South African Police Service, the Department of Transport, the South African Insurance Association, Bacsa, the Retail Motor Industry, the South African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, and the Banking Association. Bacsa reports that typically over 100 000 vehicles are stolen and hijacked annually in South Africa. Of the stolen vehicles, 53% are reregistered, 37% are exported and 17% are stripped for spares. Only 40% of stolen vehicles are recovered. The organisation also reports that of the recovered stolen and hijacked vehicles, only 40% are returned to their owners and the remaining 60% are either compacted or used by the State. |
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