- Ford has filed a patent with the USPTO for methods and strategies that help in automobile repossession, as first reported by The Drive.
- One of many methods described within the patent permits an autonomous automobile to repossess itself.
- Different strategies counsel limiting automobile features (A/C, energy home windows, energy seats, and so forth.) and even locking delinquent homeowners out of their automobiles.
Avoiding the repo man may get lots more durable sooner or later, particularly if automobiles can someday repossess themselves. With autonomous driving tech seemingly turning into extra prevalent within the coming years, all it will take is an automaker to introduce a system the place that new automotive, truck, or SUV parked in your driveway can drive itself away should you do not pay.
Thus far, none have. Nonetheless, Ford may play spoiler based mostly on a filling with the USA Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) that particulars a self-repossessing system together with different repo-related repercussions. Ford first filed the patent with the USPTO again in 2021, but it surely wasn’t formally revealed till final Thursday—a discovery initially made by The Drive.
Dude, The place’s My Ford?
As we already talked about, essentially the most startling particulars described within the submitting regard autonomous and semi-autonomous automobiles that may repossess themselves. For automobiles geared up with the latter, they could merely transfer themselves a brief distance to a location the place they are often extra simply towed. For automobiles with extra superior autonomous tech, they may drive themselves to the lending firm or the repo lot. In conditions the place Ford’s repo system corresponds with the lender and determines the automobile’s market worth is not price the price of the repossession, it may drive itself straight to the junkyard. Yikes.
A few of Ford’s different repo-related repercussions do not go fairly so far as making folks watch their unmanned F-150 Lightning drive on to the crusher at Uncle Tony’s Salvage. Additionally they act as early warnings and workarounds for people who personal automobiles with out autonomous know-how or in instances the place a automobile is parked in a storage or in any other case unable to drive itself away or be accessed by a tow truck.
They are often as easy, albeit infuriating, as disabling sure automobile features. At first, comfort options such because the the air-conditioning, cruise management, energy seats, energy home windows, or the the radio may be deactivated. One other technique is described as taking part in irritating and constant sounds via the stereo system. We instantly considered Jim Carrey’s “most annoying sound on this planet” scene from Dumb and Dumber. After that, they may escalate to limiting features to entry or drive the automobile. Primarily, Ford’s repo system may immobilize the automotive, truck, or SUV and even lock the proprietor out.
Avoiding the Full Repo
It is price noting the submitting extensively particulars steps that may be taken earlier than an automatic repossession happens. For instance, a collection of messages can be despatched between the lender and the proprietor with past-due funds, who would then have an allotted period of time to reply accordingly. The submitting additionally consists of language acknowledging occasions resembling being hospitalized or being in another country. It is talked about that folks with monetary hardships may have the ability to work out a cost plan with their lender to keep away from repo-related penalties.
For now, all Ford’s patent submitting confirms is that the corporate is not less than kicking across the concept of self-repossessing automobiles. Whereas it sounds believable the extra autonomous driving tech turns into higher built-in and extra widespread, we might sooner anticipate to see automobiles be remotely repossessed by having options disabled or via immobilization. Then once more, it is laborious to foretell the long run.
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Senior Editor
Eric Stafford’s car habit started earlier than he may stroll, and it has fueled his ardour to write down information, critiques, and extra for Automobile and Driver since 2016. His aspiration rising up was to turn into a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like automotive assortment. Apparently, getting wealthy is more durable than social-media influencers make it appear, so he averted monetary success totally to turn into an automotive journalist and drive new vehicles for a residing. After incomes a level at Central Michigan College and dealing at a each day newspaper, the years of principally burning cash on failed challenge vehicles and lemon-flavored jalopies lastly paid off when Automobile and Driver employed him. His storage presently features a 2010 Acura RDX, a handbook ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.
