Following the European Union way of employing hi-tech anti-theft devices in cars, the largest Indian car manufacturer, Maruti Udyog, is set to introduce the immobilizer system, iCATs, across all its models.
iCATs (intelligent Computerized Anti-Theft system) works on the principle of multiplexed communication where an inbuilt transponder, into the car key, carries a unique electronic identification and a secret code that digitally communicates with the engine computer via a controller. The car engine starts only if the secret code matches thus preventing the car from being stolen.