Ford Motor Company has a patent pending that could replace the repo-man: It’s technology would disable a vehicle’s engine, air-conditioning, and heating controls and lock an owner out on the curb. The technology found in Ford’s patent document, titled “Systems and Methods to Repossess a Vehicle,” has been coming for decades, and folks are finding out that all is not so hunky-dory in a world where Artificial Intelligence (AI) can step in and do the jobs humans avoid. It’s a beautiful partnership to ask Alexa where to dine for the decision impaired. But what about the person baking in the Arizona sun on a 120-degree day over a missed payment?
The grand poohbahs at Ford say they have no real plans to use the technology; instead, they just want to get ahead of the competition and “encourage technological innovations.” A statement issued by the automaker read, in part: “We submit patents on new inventions as a normal course of business, but they aren’t necessarily an indication of new business or product plans.”
The Perfect Timing of the Repossession Patent
Vehicle repossessions in the US have risen steadily since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the workforce for months on end. Unfortunately, the virus did not care if one’s car payment was overdue and the occupant had no income at the time. In 2020, just 2.58% of car loan holders were 60 days or more behind on their payments, but by December 2022, that had jumped to 5.67%. It doesn’t help that new and used car prices have risen 20% and 40%, respectively. And frankly, for most people, being behind on the bills is embarrassing.
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
That’s where the patent application explained the necessity after calls for collection go unheeded: “When an acknowledgment is not received within a reasonable period of time, the first computer may disable a functionality (radio, air-conditioner, etc.) or may place the vehicle in a lockout condition.”
Danger, Danger, Will Robinson!
The repossession software could be installed on any future vehicle in the automaker’s lineup. Any car or truck with autonomous capability could repossess itself and drive to the lending institution or the dealership, whether the owner is in it or not. Likewise, if the owner makes a fuss, law enforcement is on repo car’s speed dial, so to speak.
Yet Ford insists it’s not something they want to put into use any time soon. Until deployed, the technology is just a worrisome thought – but the potential for abuse abounds. Like any electronic technology, the potential for hacking is a concern, as well. “It really seems like you’re opening up a can of worms that, as a manufacturer, you don’t really need to be doing,” said John Van Alst, a senior attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. “You’ve now created this device which is like the doomsday device in Dr. Strangelove.” And while that may be a bit of future hysteria, technology is here and ready to annoy the consumer into paying their loan on time.
