Targa Telematics has levelled up vehicle protection for fleets with new AI-driven capabilities.

By implementing preventive measures, vehicle recovery rates may reach up to 90%

New data from Targa Telematics Observatory reveals that cases of misuse and unauthorised use increased by 50% in 2025, accounting for nearly 40% of all thefts.

The trend is mirrored in the broader UK vehicle crime landscape. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, vehicle thefts have increased by over 70% in the 10-year period 2015-2025. Vehicle crime, whether in the form of theft or misuse, poses considerable challenges to fleet managers and mobility operators, in terms of operational efficiency, costs and insurance exposure.

As vehicle crime continues to evolve, the findings highlight a significant challenge for fleet managers and mobility operators, with misuse often stemming from initially legitimate access to a vehicle and becoming harder to detect through traditional, reactive approaches.

Targa Telematics is addressing this shift with its AI-driven solution, Smart Vehicle Protector (SVP), designed to identify early signals of risk.

By implementing preventive measures, vehicle recovery rates may reach up to 90%, greatly reducing the economic and operational impact for operators.

Instances of misuse, unlike traditional theft, often originate from initially legitimate access to a vehicle. Risk evolves over time through non-compliant behaviour, prolonged use, or unusual operational patterns, making timely detection more complex. The intelligent correlation of events, such as behavioural anomalies, breaches of agreed limits, and inconsistent usage patterns, helps overcome the limitations of reactive models based on ex-post controls and enables a preventive approach. This allows operators to monitor assets and intervene before misappropriation turns into a definitive loss.

Building on a strong data foundation developed over years of field experience and enriched with large volumes of signals and real-world cases, Targa Telematics’ SVP solution identifies early signs of vehicle misuse, facilitating the rapid activation of the operators responsible for vehicle recovery.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence – including agentic AI – and behavioural analysis, SVP continuously monitors each asset, correlates weak signals and prioritises high-risk alerts, enabling fast and targeted intervention through the network of Targa Telematics’ 24/7 Control Rooms operating across Europe.

Chris Horbowyj, UK commercial director, Targa Telematics

Chris Horbowyj, UK commercial director at Targa Telematics, said: “With the vehicle crime landscape in the UK rapidly evolving, it is essential for fleet managers and mobility operators to rely on next-generation services that go beyond reactive incident management and unlock a truly proactive approach to asset protection.

“By capitalising on Smart Vehicle Protector, Targa Telematics’ AI-powered solution capable of identifying early signs of risk, UK rental and leasing operators can achieve remarkable cost savings and improve operational efficiency.

“As vehicle crime continues to place pressure on margins and fleet availability, the shift towards data-driven prevention should become a critical priority rather than a nice to have.”