When vehicle data makes the difference: ex:tracked in cases of misappropriation and theft

Vehicle theft has been a concern for insurers for years. Banks and leasing companies face an additional challenge: vehicles that are not returned following missed payments and contract termination. Connected car data opens new ways to locate misappropriated or stolen vehicles and provide targeted support for their recovery.

At EXCON, we continuously develop our software solutions in line with our clients’ requirements and practical experience. This also applies to our software for vehicle localization ex:tracked over the past few months, our development team has made the application faster, simplified its operation and expanded brand coverage to include Volvo and Hyundai. At the same time, real cases continue to provide new insights into how vehicle data can be used effectively in practice.

Product development: Faster access to relevant vehicle data

When a vehicle goes missing, time is critical. That is why our expert team has focused over the past few months on making ex:tracked even faster and easier to use.
Depending on the case, initial location data may be available in less than a minute. We have also further simplified the interface so that users can quickly access the information they need to take the next steps at a critical moment.

Coverage continues to grow with Volvo and Hyundai

The range of vehicle brands supported by ex:tracked continues to expand. Volvo and Hyundai are the latest additions, allowing supported vehicles from both brands to be located through the solution.

This is particularly relevant to the insurance market. Statistics from the German Insurance Association (GDV) regularly show which brands and models are most frequently affected by vehicle theft and the resulting financial losses.

The brands currently supported by ex:tracked cover 90 per cent of the most frequently stolen vehicle models listed in the GDV statistics by total number of thefts.
This growing coverage increases the relevance of ex:tracked for both of its core use cases: helping insurers handle vehicle theft cases and helping vehicle finance providers investigate cases of misappropriation and support vehicle repossession and recovery.

When one case suddenly leads to several more

A growing number of cases involving our clients demonstrate the practical benefits. These cases are not always just about recovering a single vehicle. Sometimes, one vehicle provides the crucial lead for further investigations.

A recent example from the leasing sector illustrates this particularly clearly.
 

Recovered after eight months: ex:tracked helps locate a misappropriated sprinter

When a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter was not returned after its lease had ended, the leasing company reported suspected misappropriation to the police and took all the necessary steps. However, the investigation initially failed to produce a breakthrough. A subsequent review of the investigation file also provided no concrete lead on the vehicle’s whereabouts.

The Sprinter remained missing for eight months. At the end of February 2026, ex:tracked brought fresh momentum to the case.

The solution reported new vehicle activity and provided an up-to-date location. The leasing company responded immediately, informing the police and sharing the available location data.

A police patrol followed the lead and reached the Sprinter shortly after it had entered a large courtyard. There, officers discovered more than the missing leased vehicle. They also found other vehicles connected to separate investigations.

In doing so, ex:tracked helped recover the Sprinter that had been missing for eight months. The original misappropriation case also generated new leads that extended beyond this individual investigation.

After eight months without a concrete lead, the case took a new turn, with implications reaching far beyond the vehicle originally being sought.

Data is only part of the success

Our experience so far also shows that good technology alone does not determine success. What happens once relevant vehicle data becomes available is just as important.

Insurers and leasing companies benefit most from ex:tracked when their internal workflows are ready to act on the data. Clear responsibilities, complete supporting documentation and authorisations, and established processes for working with authorities and other parties can determine how quickly a lead becomes concrete action.

When new vehicle data becomes available, the first question should not be: Who is responsible for this now? The necessary processes should already be in place.

Broader coverage, faster processes, more experience

With every additional manufacturer supported and every real case, ex:tracked continues to evolve. For insurers, ex:tracked expands the options available when handling vehicle theft. Banks and leasing companies can use the solution particularly in cases of vehicle misappropriation, when vehicles are not returned after contract termination and need to be located to support further repossession and recovery processes.

Above all, the cases from recent months show that even when conventional investigative methods initially fail to produce a new lead, a missing vehicle does not necessarily have to remain lost.

Sometimes, a new data point is all it takes to get a case moving again.

Would you like to ex:trackedplore how ex:tracked can be integrated into your processes for handling vehicle misappropriation and theft, as well as repossession and recovery? Speak to our expert team.