Cobra UK, a leader in vehicle safety and security solutions, has reported an improvement in the average vehicle recovery time for its CobraTrak vehicle tracking customers. Cobra's figures for 2011 show that the average time from a CobraTrak customer confirming a vehicle as stolen to the time it has been secured by police has reduced to just 54 minutes from 57 minutes.

CobraTrak products can be installed on new or used cars, provide peace of mind and can protect insurance premiums. A car is stolen every six minutes in the UK according to a 2011 survey conducted by the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS). In addition, 81 per cent of all high value car thefts occurred as a result of criminals gaining access to car keys through house burglaries, car jackings or assaults*. Cobra is warning drivers to stay vigilant and offering its top tips on how to deter car thieves.

• Ensure car keys are kept in a secure place, out of view in your home at all times. Never leave car keys in a porch or near the front door - professional thieves frequently obtain car keys by simply hooking them up through letterboxes 
• Lock away any spare sets of car keys in a secure cupboard when on holiday without your vehicle
• Never leave your car with the keys in it, even on your own driveway. Many vehicles are targeted during winter months when drivers warm vehicles up outside their homes in the morning. Remember scenarios such as this can invalidate insurance policies!
• It is always better if you can carry your keys on your person rather than a handbag or wallet. Also avoid leaving car keys in jacket pockets when hanging coats in restaurant or bar cloakrooms
• Make sure all your house doors and downstairs windows are locked at all times if you are in another part of the property
• Keep your car in a secure, off-road environment such as a residential garage if possible
• If your vehicle is stored on a driveway ensure you install a security light to act as a theft deterrent
• Fit an alarm and/or tracking system to your vehicle. For further information on quality, Thatcham accredited products visit Cobra's website www.cobravehiclesecurity.co.uk

"Car theft is still a very prevalent problem in the UK and we have seen subscribers to our Cobra tracking services increase over the last 12 months," says Andrew Smith, Managing Director, Cobra UK Ltd. "With high value cars stolen to order, being a specific target for organised car thieves, it is worth investing in a vehicle tracking product, especially as many vehicles stolen to order are transported abroad within 48 hours. We supply to many of the leading manufacturers of top marque vehicles and also offer aftermarket solutions."

"As 50% of stolen cars are never recovered we would recommend reviewing your vehicle's security to see what is fitted as standard. It may be that a Cobra tracking system or a better quality immobiliser or alarm is a vital option for you to ensure your pride and joy is kept secure from car thieves. It could reduce your insurance premium at the same time!"

Cobra UK offers two Thatcham accredited vehicle tracking products, CobraTrak Plus and CobraTrak 5, and both are available with a web tracking upgrade including the ability to set a geofence zone around your vehicle and receive an alert should the vehicle exit the zone. CobraTrak uses the latest GPS/GPRS/GSM technology to locate a vehicle to within ten metres. Cobra's network of 24 hour monitoring centres across 39 European countries, Russia and South Africa commence live tracking when a theft is reported and liaise with police authorities in local language to recover the vehicle quickly and minimise the likelihood of damage.

Through its CobraTrak and NavTrak brands, Cobra is the European market leader for stolen vehicle tracking. The company supplies stolen vehicle tracking and recovery services at a pan-European level to Audi, Bentley, Ferrari, Infiniti, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, Rolls-Royce Phantom and Tesla. 

Cobra is also the supplier of many of the world's most advanced standard fit vehicle security systems. Cobra vehicle alarms and immobilisers are all Thatcham approved and recognised by the UK's major insurers, who may offer a reduced insurance group rating or premium discount. 

*Esure ** Europol

-Ends-

For press enquires please contact Kally Carder or Steve Carman on 01628 526208 or email kally@nobull-communications.co.uk

Porsche, a Cobra client, took the best Performance Car Award for the 911, pipping the likes of the Audi R8 Spyder, the BMW M5 and the Lamborghini Aventador to the post. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class beat the Audi A8, Bentley Mulsanne, Jaguar XJ and Range Rover to the Luxury Car Award. Cobra is delighted to congratulate both winners on their awards.

Managing director of Cobra UK, Andrew Smith, said: "We were proud to team up with What Car? to sponsor the performance and luxury categories at the UK motoring Oscars. Many congratulations to our client Porsche and Mercedes-Benz on their accolades! Both award categories were very relevant to our business as they keep us front of mind with our existing and potential prestige car manufacturer partners, as a premium supplier of high end safety and security solutions to the automotive industry."

Cobra has over 35 years experience partnering many of the world's most recognised vehicle manufacturers, developing bespoke solutions for both factory and aftermarket installation on a global level.

Cobra offers a vast number of products and solutions and is at the forefront of electronic and telematics systems technology for the automotive industry. Cobra's range includes alarms and immobilisers, parking sensors, in-car communications, entertainment solutions and GPS stolen vehicle tracking systems.

Through its CobraTrak and NavTrak brands, Cobra is the European market leader for Stolen Vehicle Tracking and the only approved supplier to: Audi, Bentley, Ferrari, Infiniti, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, Rolls-Royce Phantom and Tesla. Cobra offers fully integrated stolen vehicle tracking services across 36 European countries, Russia and South Africa.

The What Car? Car of the Year Awards are acknowledged by many as the UK motoring Oscars. The event is the automotive industry's best-known and most influential awards ceremony and the awards are coveted by car makers both in the UK and overseas. The event was attended by more than 1200 leading industry figureheads alongside many of the most influential motoring correspondents in the UK.

-Ends-            

For further information call Steve Carman or Kally Carder at Nobull Communications on 01628 526208, steve@ or kally@nobull-communications.co.uk

Cobra UK has launched a range of new high tech wireless alarms which will reduce fitting times and drive down security costs for new and used cars and light commercials.

The Thatcham CAT 2-1 accredited 4600 series of alarms employs technology which links the alarm's central unit and the siren via a wireless connection.

A major benefit of wireless technology is that fitting times are reduced by around half an hour. A secondary benefit is that the alarm installation doesn't interfere with the integrity of the vehicle as no holes are drilled in the vehicle's bulkhead.

The 4600 series is available with or without remote control arming/disarming and standard features include a built-in immobiliser, passive arming, perimetric protection of the boot, doors and bonnet, built-in ultrasonics and an anti-hijack facility.

The 4600 range can be sourced through Cobra's nationwide dealer network and comes with a three year warranty as standard.

"Cobra is constantly working on security initiatives that provide added value to our dealer network and their customers. The 4600 series provides all the benefits of a modern alarm and immobiliser system with reduced fitting times. In this current economic climate reducing fitting times and therefore costs have got to be a win win situation for all concerned," said Cobra UK's Managing Director Andrew Smith.

Ends...

For press enquires please contact Kally Carder or Steve Carman on 01628 526208 or email kally@nobull-communications.co.uk

Designed and developed specifically for the Ford Transit, the alarm system is now available as a dealer fit option on any Transit model from 2007 onwards, including the new Euro Stage V models.

It is the only Thatcham Cat 1 alarm system which can be fitted to a Transit featuring the ECO Pack, including the Transit ECOnetic.

The alarm is operated via the Transit's central locking key fob and boasts a range of features that will ensure that customers protect their vehicles and valuable contents against theft. These include:

Cab interior ultrasonic movement protection

• Protection to the cab doors, bonnet, rear and side load doors
• Emergency override facility via a unique PIN code
• Tilt sensor to deter tow away and wheel theft
• High power siren with battery back-up
• A three year warranty

"Cobra has worked with Ford to develop a high quality alarm system which aims to provide van customers with both a theft deterrent and vehicle protection," explained Andrew Smith, Managing Director of Cobra UK Limited.

"It can be fitted to the highly popular Transit ECOnetic models and is equipped with a tilt sensor which ensures the alarm activates as a deterrent to the vehicle being towed away or the wheels being stolen. Ford is committed to helping protect its van customers' vehicles and loads from theft. We have worked together to develop a top quality Cat 1 accredited alarm system that exceeds the stringent requirements of both Ford of Europe and Ford of Britain which should also help lower insurance premiums," he added.

Ford dealers can supply the alarm priced at £208.33 plus VAT, with an all inclusive fitted price available on application through individual dealers.

Ends...

For press enquires please contact Kally Carder or Steve Carman on 01628 526208 or email kally@nobull-communications.co.uk

Overall, more than a fifth of all workplace transport injuries in the past 12 months involved a fork lift truck. Leaders in the provision of security and safety solutions for the automotive industry, Cobra UK urges employers to ensure their fork lift truck drivers are well trained and fully equipped with reversing cameras and monitors, to reduce the number of reversing accidents that occur in the work place.

"Cobra's bespoke rear view reversing cameras and monitors can be the extra pair of eyes a driver needs when behind the wheel in difficult operating conditions. They can minimise the hefty bills a fork lift can easily incur in reversing related body damage, while helping employers meet Duty of Care responsibilities," says Andrew Smith, Managing Director, Cobra UK Limited.

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (1998) require all lifting equipment, including fork lift trucks to be strong, stable and used safely. In order to adhere to these regulations and meet their Duty of Care requirements, it is imperative that employers ensure their drivers are fully equipped and well trained in the safe operation of their machinery.

Cobra UK's wide range of mix and match rear view camera and monitor combinations, including infra-red solutions for night use, offer drivers ease of use, while giving both employer and driver the peace of mind of being able to clearly see what is behind them in all light conditions.

"Our rear view reversing cameras and monitors offer employers a proactive and cost effective solution in the battle to improve health and safety standards in the workplace," continues Smith.

With the ability to illuminate the road in the dark or in poorly lit areas, drivers can literally see what is behind their vehicle when reversing at any time of day or night, while the range of compact dash mounted colour screens display a bright high resolution rear view image as soon as the reverse gear is selected, enabling operators to reverse more safely.

-Ends-

*http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/kinds-of-accident.pdf

For further information on Cobra's reversing cameras and monitors visit http://www.cobravehiclesecurity.co.uk/products/parking-aids.aspx

For press enquires please contact Kally Carder or Steve Carman on 01628 526208 or email kally@nobull-communications.co.uk

Cobra UK's new Rosen AV7700 Dual DVD in-car entertainment system has won a major award just four months after being launched into the UK market.

The Rosen system picked up Gold in the Best Headrest Product category at the recent Mobile Electronic News (MEN) Awards, the equivalent of the Oscars for the mobile electronics industry.

Judges commended the AV7700 system which comes complete with twin 7" LCD displays, two wireless headphones,wireless remote control, wireless game controller and 25 games, and the system's new universal seat back mounting system which works in conjunction with manufacturer's active headrests to ensure safety is not compromised in the event of an accident.

MEN also praised the system's high quality 'factory fitted' appearance and the ability to colour code the seat back mounting system to match the car's interior.

The AV7700 ensures rear seat passengers of all ages will never be bored on a journey again, as it allows them to play DVDs, listen to music in CD or MP3 format, play video games, view JPEG photo slide shows through a high quality tilting seven inch LCD screen, or connect up their iPod® or other MP3 device. Each passenger benefits from their own separate entertainment system, or they can watch the same film on both screens.

Rosen has designed the AV7700 to seamlessly blend in with the car's interior, whatever the make or model. The front fascia comes in silver finish and the rear upholstered covers can be ordered in a number of different colours to further fit in with the look and feel of the car's interior.

Rosen pioneered overhead mobile video in 1996 building on their experience in designing aviation displays for private jets. Based in California, Rosen is considered to be the leading technology innovator in patented rear seat entertainment, with over 50 patents to date. Rosen was also the first original equipment supplier to Land Rover, General Motors, Daimler-Chrysler, Toyota, Mazda and others. All Rosen systems are designed in the USA.

The AV7700 is the fourth Rosen product offered by Cobra. It joins the Rosen AV7500 7" Seatback Dual-DVD System, including factory style replacement headrests with integral built-in screens, and the Rosen Z8 8.5" and Z10 10.2" Roof Mount DVD systems, which can be fitted to most cars. Rosen products are available from Cobra dealers nationwide. To find your nearest stockist visit www.cobravehiclesecurity.co.uk and click on the 'Where to Buy' tab.

-Ends-

For press enquires please contact Kally Carder or Steve Carman on 01628 526208 or email kally@nobull-communications.co.uk

Cobra picked up two gold, three silver and one bronze accolade at the leading awards ceremony for the aftermarket vehicle accessories industry.

The company won gold in the Best Tracking Consumer category for its CobraTrak Plus product, and silver for its CobraTrak Plus and CobraTrak 5 with Web Tracking products in both the Best Security Product category and in the Best Tracking-Fleet Product category.

Cobra also picked up silver in the Best Parking Sensor Product category for its Cobra Park Master A0358 Flush Mount Sensors, bronze in the Best Alarm category for its Cobra 4405 Cat 2-1 CAN-bus Alarm, and gold in the Best Headrest Product category for the Rosen AV7700 Seatback Dual-DVD system.

Andrew Smith, Managing Director, Cobra UK said: "We have had a busy year with new product development and we are thrilled with the very positive reaction from the industry to these new initiatives. We aim to continue this momentum into 2012, continually improving and extending our range of products and services."

Through its CobraTrak and NavTrak brands, Cobra is the European market leader for stolen vehicle tracking and location based services, with coverage across 36 European countries, Russia and South Africa. All CobraTrak vehicle tracking systems are Thatcham approved, with CobraTrak 5 carrying Thatcham Category 5 approval - the highest level of insurance accreditation available in the UK.

The CobraTrak range includes CobraTrak Plus and CobraTrak 5. Both are available with a web monitoring upgrade to offer drivers and fleet operators added protection and peace of mind. CobraTrak Plus comes with a myriad of standard alerting functionality, with alerts sent directly to Cobra's Europe wide network of Secure Monitoring Centres. These include a tow-away alert, tamper alert and GSM jamming alert, while CobraTrak 5 features Automatic Driver Recognition and Remote Engine Immobilisation.

Cobra's new A0358 4 Eye parking sensors are the company's first sensors to provide a flush finish and are suitable for most cars, motorhomes and commercial vehicles. They can be painted to match the colour of the vehicle, giving a factory style finish, and can be fitted to the front and/or rear bumpers. The company is one of the main suppliers of parking sensors to vehicle manufacturers for production line fitment.

The Cobra 4405 Thatcham 2-1 approved CAN integrated alarm is fully compatible with OE immobilisers and with a wide range of CAN-bus protocols, and uses ultrasonic interior movement protection with an exclusion facility, among other functions, to offer the driver ease of use and peace of mind.

Cobra is also the exclusive UK distributor for the new Rosen AV7700 Seatback Dual-DVD System, developed specifically for vehicles with active headrests. This system can be retro fitted to most new vehicles, with no need to replace the original headrests.

-Ends-

For press enquires please contact Kally Carder or Steve Carman on 01628 526208 or email kally@nobull-communications.co.uk

Cobra gave 6,250 coach and bus industry professionals attending the show an opportunity to see the first ever live demo of the ground breaking new real time CCTV system, which allows coach and bus operators to protect their vehicles, passengers and drivers, and safeguard their reputation.

A significant number of industry professionals received a Global Live demo of the new system on the Cobra stand over the two days, educating the showgoers in the financial, security and safety benefits of adopting the new service.

Real-time images from cameras mounted in and around the vehicle, streamed to an Independent Monitoring Centre, coupled with inbuilt two way voice communication with the driver, can enable bus operators to deal with a situation as it happens. Immediate, accurate on site intelligence can enable better response decisions to be made. Forward facing cameras can also be installed to monitor driving standards and to provide footage, which can be used as evidence in court in the event of an accident, helping to guard against an increasing tendency of fraudulent third party claims.

Behind the scenes, highly trained personnel at the Independent Monitoring Centre can follow events in real time and provide footage for later review. Inbuilt GPS technology gives the added benefit of providing pinpoint location of a vehicle at any time.

"The people we spoke to confirmed there is a real need for a system like Global Live in this sector. We generated some very positive leads from the show and are excited about the future prospects of Global Live!" said Andrew Smith, Managing Director, Cobra UK.

"This unique live CCTV system coupled with independent monitoring enhances our commitment to improving the safety and security of drivers and their passengers, and could also help bus operators negotiate significant insurance discounts as they lower the risk profile of their vehicles. Global Live is equally suitable for protecting high value HGV loads which are frequently targeted by organised thieves when parked at night or intercepted just prior to the point of delivery. Global Live also provides a solution for monitoring and protecting remote or unmanned sites, such as storage depots."

Cobra's Global Live system is a bespoke solution. The number and position of cameras can be tailored to the needs of individual customers and can be further personalised with the enhancement of personal attack buttons for drivers and enhanced infra red cameras.

For more information email sales@global-live.co.uk

The UK motor industry could continue to lose its young car buyer base over the next decade if something isn't done to reduce car insurance costs for the under 20s according to telematics provider Cobra UK.

Only one in three (35%) of 17-21 year olds have a full licence, and out of the 65% who don't have a licence, 34% said insurance costs were preventing them from learning to drive according to the Department of Transport's National Travel Survey 2010.

Cobra believes it is time for insurers to switch to driver based rather than car based policies, powered by telematics technology which is already commercially available. It measures all key outputs from a car's journey in real time such as times and distances, fuel consumption, mileage, average speed, top speed, location, journey type, cornering dynamics and accelerations and decelerations.

"It's time for a major insurance rethink, especially for younger drivers," said Cobra UK Managing Director Andrew Smith.

"If insurance prices are deterring and preventing younger drivers getting on the first rung of the insurance ladder it's time to change things. Telematics is a proven technology that is already available and both insurer and driver can choose the best options that suit their circumstances which will help dramatically reduce premiums," he added.

Cobra's telematics technology already powers three driver based insurance packages. These are:

· Pay How You Drive - the better your driving the lower your premiums

· Pay As You Drive - based on time, distance and location of journeys covered by the driver

· Pay Per Use - based on a driver's mileage

Looking at the bigger picture, driver behaviour based insurance will also improve the driving standards among under 20s as the better they drive the lower their premiums, which fits in with the Government's aim of accident reduction among younger car owners.

"Manufacturers and their dealers have to sit down with the insurance companies to see how they can speed up the process of moving to a driver behaviour based insurance platform before we lose the new and used car buyers of the future," said Smith.

Cobra already provides a telematics solution for the Coverbox pay as you drive insurance policy, which the Co-Operative is using to power its Young Driver Behaviour Insurance.

...Ends...

For further press information call Steve Carman, Kally Carder or Margaux Smale at Nobull Communications on 01628 526208 or kally@nobull-communications.co.uk

The two Cobra teams; The Tigers and The Spanners and their bangers, which cost less than £250 each, departed from Silverstone on Saturday 3rd September and are today headed for Monza in Italy, and Monte Carlo in Monaco. They will continue to travel through Europe, stopping off at a total of seven Formula 1 circuits along the route, before arriving at the Catalunya Circuit in Barcelona tomorrow; Tuesday 6th September.

The Cobra Spanners team is made up of Miles Garner, Nigel Grove and Jason Parsons. The team's banger is an S-registration Mitsubishi Carisma, with over 109,000 miles on the clock. The Cobra Tigers are Ian Ross, Sue Bown and Anthony Chorlton and their banger is a 117,000 mile,16 year-old Audi Coupé. Both vehicles underwent essential maintenance prior to the challenge and have been wrapped with key sponsors logos. The vehicles will be auctioned off after the event to further boost funds for Help For Heroes.

Andrew Smith, Managing Director at Cobra UK commented, "Both teams have their bangers kitted out with one of our vehicle tracking products; CobraTrak Plus with web monitoring. This is allowing us to to track the teams' progress and location using the latest GPS/GSM technology and the Vehicle Location on Demand facility. Both teams are doing fantastically well, despite the relentless rain and they are on course to complete the challenge in the allotted four days!"

"Both cars with our new Global Live technology, a live CCTV monitoring system, designed to protect commercial vehicles and their loads, with on board cameras allowing our Secure Operating Centre personnel to monitor vehicles audibly and visually, 24/7. The bangers are fitted with forward facing CCTV cameras and we will be sharing footage of the teams covering the seven Formula 1 circuits, via our online platforms, once the challenge is complete!"

"I would like to thank all our generous sponsors including Mitsubishi Motors, Integrated Visual Protection, Joe Macari Service, Global Vehicle Systems, Prestige Auto Repairs and Digital Revolution for vehicle graphics. We have been overwhelmed by their generosity and support and I'm confident we will reach our £10,000 target before the challenge is completed tomorrow."

More information can be found on the website: www.cobravehiclesecurity.co.uk, Cobra's Just Giving page http://www.justgiving.com/CobraUK or follow the Cobra teams' progress on Twitter @CobraUKLtd

...Ends...

For further press information call Steve Carman, Kally Carder or Margaux Smale at Nobull Communications on 01628 526208 or kally@nobull-communications.co.uk