Ford’s Plan for Self-Repossessing Cars Hits the Brakes Amid Public Backlash
This post may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission, at no cost to you. As always, I only recommend links I personally use and love!
In August 2021, Ford filed a patent for self-driving cars that could drive themselves to specific locations if owners missed their car payments. The patent also proposed disabling features like air conditioning and playing unpleasant sounds through the car’s speakers. This revelation shocked many, leading to significant public backlash and causing Ford to reconsider the plan.
Systems And Methods To Repossess A Vehicle
Ford called it “Systems and Methods to Repossess a Vehicle,” and at first it would only alert the owner that their payment was due or overdue. If the owner continued to ignore this, the car would automatically disable certain features.
Disabled Features
The patent mentioned disabling air-conditioning, radio, cruise control, power seats, and power windows. Following that, they could restrict access to or control over other vehicle functions. Ford’s repossession system could even potentially lock the owner out of the vehicle.
Self Repo
Reminding the owner of payments and disabling car features was only the beginning. In the most extreme cases, a semi-autonomous vehicle might drive itself to the lender, or even head to a scrap yard if its condition and worth were deemed undesirable.
Abandoned Patent
The US Patent and Trademark Office has now categorized the patent as “abandoned” due to “failure to respond to an office action” on October 20th, 2023. The nature of the office action and why Ford did not respond remain unknown at this time.
Why Ford Abandoned The Patent
The automaker opted to discontinue the pursuit of the technology. It’s unclear whether this is just for the short term or if it’s for good. Autonomous driving technology faces several significant challenges, and the public’s response to the patent was not favorable.
Car Dealers
Even if automakers don’t pursue this technology, it wouldn’t be surprising if car dealers adopted it. Some car dealers already put GPS tracking software on vehicles to ensure they can locate them in case a buyer falls behind on payments.
Did Ford Ever Plan On Using This Tech?
It’s possible Ford wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about the concept of self-repossessing cars from the start. Car manufacturers frequently file patents for technologies they don’t necessarily plan to develop right away. This approach allows them to retain concepts for potential future use, assessing whether to pursue them or not.
The Future
As autonomous driving technology advances and becomes more prevalent, it’s increasingly plausible that vehicles could be repossessed remotely. This represents a massive change in the methods of vehicle repossession, all thanks to rapid technological advancements.
12 Reasons Why Trump’s Presidency Matters to Older Americans
12 Reasons Why Trump’s Presidency Matters to Older Americans
14 Influential Personalities Endorsing Trump for 2024
14 Influential Personalities Endorsing Trump for 2024
Sam Whisnant is a college student with a talent for writing and a natural curiosity about the world. He combines his academic pursuits with a passion for sharing knowledge in a way that is both informative and engaging to his readers.
