New research from experts on cars and vehicle safety shows that thieves aren’t as interested in EVs compared to gas-powered cars for various reasons, Axios reported.
According to experts at the NICB and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s IIHS), EVs are much less likely to be snatched than gas-powered cars. Four of the six least-stolen vehicles are EVs, an IIHS analysis of insurance claims says.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports that more than 1 million vehicles were stolen in the U.S. in 2023. Yet, about 49 of every 100,000 insured cars are stolen each year. By contrast, only 1 out of every 100,000 insured Tesla Model 3s was stolen.
The lowest theft claims come from versions of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, the Hyundai Tucson, the Volvo XC90, and the GMC Acadia.
Experts have multiple theories as to why EVs are targeted less for theft, mainly pertaining to matters of newer and more advanced technology.
“Even as the volume of EV thefts have increased over time, it is still extremely low in comparison to gas-powered vehicles,” NICB public affairs specialist Nicholas Zeitlinger told Axios in an email. “The technology in these cars is not as common knowledge. Most don’t use keys but are controlled through a phone or with a keycard.”
Other potential reasons proposed have to do with the tracking systems implemented in many EVs, and matters of proximity when it comes to charging the vehicles.
“We have hypothesized that these vehicles are often garaged or kept next to a home for charging purposes, which may make them unappealing targets,” IIHS spokesperson Joe Young said.
According to the IIHIS analysis, the most stolen vehicle was the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, which was stolen 2,583 times for every 100,000 insured vehicles, pointing to a trend of more sports-type muscle cars being targeted for theft.
