Average weekly car theft across Italy dropped by 85% in the latter part of March, in particular after the “Cura Italia” decree passed by the Italian government on 16 March.  This figure refers to company contract hires and short-term rentals and is of enormous significance when you consider the huge numbers of thefts during normal times, a problem which is felt particularly in population dense cities which continue to be a blackspot for industrial sectors like the car rental industry typically using recently registered cars. These figures were provided by Targa Telematics, a company specialising in technological solutions for mobility and delivering digital platforms for vehicle monitoring to key operators in the car rental sector. Targa Telematics monitors more than 450 thousand vehicles in the afore-mentioned sectors.

“For first time ever, in the latter part of March, we recorded full days without one single car theft. This data testifies the effectiveness of the lockdown and gives us hope that the most acute phase of the emergency we are all facing may end within a reasonable timeframe,” commented Nicola De Mattia, CEO of Targa Telematics. Evidently, the emergency measures have also succeeded in discouraging criminal behaviour, one of the few advantages of the situation and we hope it might continue, at least in part, when we return to normal.”

The drastic drop in theft after the decree was seen across all Italian regions whereas, interestingly, in the weeks leading up to March 16, only a very minor dip was recorded.

TARGA TELEMATICS

Targa Telematics is an IT company with 20 years of experience in connected vehicles. It delivers digital solutions, smart mobility and IoT platforms for customers the vehicle rental sector. It serves short- and long-term rental companies, financial organisations and large fleets, ranging from insurance telematics and asset and fleet management to digital vehicle tracking and diagnostics, professional and construction site vehicles, and the management of airport vehicles. Targa Telematics recorded turnover of €45 million in 2019, has 120 employees and more than 950 customers. For more information: www.targatelematics.com

TARGA TELEMATICS

Elena Bellini, Head of Marketing, Mobile: [+39] 335 135 1277  elena.bellini@targatelematics.com

Susanne Furini, Communication Manager, Mobile [+39] 345 7274925 susanne.furini@targatelematics.com

Barabino & Partners

Linda Basilico, Tel. [+39] 02 72023535 – Mobile [+39] 334 6708127 l.basilico@barabino.it

Nicola Comelli, Tel. [+39] 02 72023535 – Mobile [+39] 392 1755488 n.comelli@barabino.it