Gear lock for OEM market

An Israeli company has launched a compact multi-purpose gear lock designed for the OEM market.
The TRX “presents unique approach to vehicle locking by providing the user up to three locking
operations in one key rotation,” says Tal Tal-Or, vice president International Marketing Rav-Bariach Vehicle Protection Ltd.. Each of the locking bolts can perform a direct locking or can be
connected to a flexible cable, with a locking element on the far edge to perform the locking at a
totally different location (for example – hood locking in the engine compartment). In addition, adapters or other locking element can be connected to each of the locking bolts.
Rav-Bariach is launching two models TRX model S (Short) with a short body length and one or two and the Model L (Long), which also has front bolt operation. Each of the bolts is 12 mm diameter with a travel of 25 mm. The diameter of the lock body is 50 mm.
According to Tal-Or, Rav Bariach developed the product in response to a world-wide need for ever more effective anti-theft devices. “In the United States, which is in line with the global trend, Every 24 seconds, a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States. The odds of a vehicle being stolen were one in 186 in 2002. The odds are highest in urban areas,” he says. According to statistics compiled by The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) from data supplied by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Report, the number of US auto thefts rose by 0.9% during the first half of 2003, the latest period for which data is available. This is part of an ongoing trend as the number of U.S. motor vehicle thefts increased by 1.4% from 2002 to 2003, the fourth consecutive annual increase. In 2002, 1,246,096 motor vehicles were reported stolen. This comes on the heels of a 1.4% increase in auto thefts in 2002, 5.9% in 2001 and 0.7% in 2000. An estimated 1.25 million auto thefts were reported in 2002.
According to Tal-Or, the new range has been designed for OEM fitment. “Our traditional market has always been the after sales market, but in a few cases we have very good cooperation with car manufacturers. With the TRX, we have no doubt that the most strategic market is indeed the car manufacturers and their dealer infra structure. This is a custom-made product that fits perfectly to each car model as an original part and that was the ingredient that we were missing with the previous products which were more universal.
Tal-Or believes that there will always be a need for a mechanical security device in vehicles. “The concept in the vehicle security world has changed drastically over the last few years.
Alarm systems are considered today more as a comfort product rather then security systems.
A mechanical security system will forever remain the most secure product. Electrical systems can be scanned, bypassed or even in many countries that we work in South America we see that the same installer that installed the system is the one helping the thieves to overcome the system.
Mechanical security systems have no bypass method. When a thief wants to steal a vehicle, he will have to cut though hardened steel which will take time. He needs special tools and he will create a lot of noise. There are no shortcuts or opportunities for so-called ‘intelligent theft’”.
Even with the high level of in-built electronic security in modern vehicles, he says there is still a need for gear lever locks. “I believe that for as long as there will be gear shifts the gear lever locks will be sold. This is the highest level of vehicle security and will continue to be so in the future. In built electronic security systems are of high quality today – that is true – but in all electronic systems – once you reach the main unit it is usually easy to bypass it. Today we market a high security hood lock that protects these main units – but still these are very vulnerable systems.
While the TRX could be fitted on the assembly line, it could also be sold as an approved after-market accessory. “As each car model has a specific lock model, installation is very easy as an original part. The TRX is the most advanced vehicle security system in the world today with a few patent protected innovations that will undoubtedly set new standards for the industry. Having a leading product included in your assembly line or dealer will undoubtedly help raise sales and the status of the vehicle. However, I believe that most manufacturers will prefer to include the locks in an accessory and have the dealers or assembly line install it only after the client confirms he is interested in the security system.”
The locks provide dealers with another income stream in a world where margins are being squeezed on new cars. “In most countries we have very good contact with the dealers. Most dealers prefer to purchase the locks and after receiving the complete training install themselves (in order to keep all the profit). In other cases, we give the dealer our installation service and this way the ‘dirty work’ is done by us. Marketing varies from one country to the other. Sometimes the locks are given by the insurance company or presented as a free security system by the dealer as an incentive, with the price being included after that in the cost of the car.”
Rav-Bariach is looking at both its established markets and new opportunities for the units. “We concentrate at present on Eastern Europe and South America. These have always been our natural markets and where our dealer network is the most extensive. After these markets are penetrated, we will start to focus on different markets like the United States and Western Europe. Of course, as we know this industry is very dynamic, and these markets can change drastically depending on how the future business will lead us,” says Tal-Or.