We asked the representatives of those who sell the most cars in Norway this question.
1. Accommodates all car models that come with an alarm
2. Will these alarms go off on ferries?
3. Is it easy to turn it off or do people have to read the instruction manual to figure it out?
4. Why do they think people can’t turn off the alarm?
5. Can car dealers get better at showing customers, especially in Western Norway, how to turn off the alarm?
Lars Joakim Hansen, Head of Communications Møller bil (VW, Skoda and Audi):
1. Yes, many of our models have an alarm to reduce the possibility of vandalism and theft. A typical example is that the car moves when closed, or that there is movement inside the compartment when the car is not in use.
2. I have heard many times that the alarm can sound when the sea is rough. It is therefore possible to deactivate the alarm system even when you are stopped on the ferry.
3. Yes, this can be done easily. There are several ways to do this, depending on the model. On our electric ID models, you can do this via the touch screen in the car. On other models with an alarm, there will be a switch or button on the driver’s side of the car that can disable the alarm.
4. It’s probably easy to forget on a busy weekday, or that many people don’t really think about the alarm going off.
5. Our customers need to have a good overview of their car’s software when picking it up from the dealership. If all dealers talk about this feature, I don’t have a detailed overview. I think everyone, both dealers and ferry crew, could be better at reminding motorists that the alarm may sound on the ferry and that it might be a good idea to turn it off.
Erik Trosby, Head of Communications Volvo Cars:
1. Yes, all new Volvo models come with an alarm as standard.
2. You can set the alarm to a low alarm level before boarding a ferry. This disconnects the sensors registering the movement and the alarm does not go off. If you don’t, the alarm can start.
3. The reduced alarm level function is easily accessible in the car’s central display. If you don’t know, you can read in the instruction manual.
4. It’s just speculation, but few may know it’s possible to do it. On Volvos it is easy to turn it off.
5. Gaining experience means that Volvo dealers have a good understanding of the functionality of our cars and are good at showing it to customers.
Øyvind Knudsen, product and PR manager Hyundai Motor Norway:
1. Yes, the alarm is standard
2. We are unaware that this is a problem. No customer complaints have been reported in this regard.
3. No, it is not possible to deactivate the car alarm and you are not supposed to. Some of our cars are equipped with a rear seat warning, to prevent people leaving pets or children in the car. Some models have an ultrasonic sensor that can be activated by motion and, in theory, the combination of large waves and loose objects could set off an alarm. But this system can easily be turned off.
(Also refers to answer 3 to answer questions 4 and 5)
Marius Tegneby, Communications Director BMW Group Norway:
1. Yes. This has become standard on BMWs produced since summer 2016 for the Norwegian market. There are also a few different functions on the alarms regardless of the car model and year.
2. Both yes and no.
Yes, if the owner hasn’t disabled the motion sensors. The vibrations and movements of the ferry will then trigger the alarm.
Not if this sensor is disabled.
3. It is easy to disable this feature. Depending on the car model/equipment level, you can:
Press the lock button on the key twice (within 10 seconds) instead of one press. (You can get a light signal in the warning light located on the interior mirror)
You can deactivate the alarm in the car’s infotainment system. If you are connected to a smartphone, you will be notified if the alarm sounds.
4. It’s probably mainly old habits or out of habit.
5. We must aim for effective and informative delivery of new and used cars, but people don’t always buy cars from dealerships, for example private purchases. I would always encourage people to read the instruction manual.
Anne Sønsteby, director of information Ford Motor Norway:
1. The type of alarm system depends entirely on the model variant and the level of equipment. Some of our cars have a body protection alarm, while others have both a body protection, motion sensors and a tilt sensor. The tilt sensor feature is designed to alert you when the car is at an unnatural angle, such as theft of tires when using a jack or the car being towed.
2. An alarm system with a tilt sensor can potentially trigger an alarm on the ferry. This is because the car is not level when the sea is rough.
3. You can deactivate the sensor in the car menu. On our Mustang Mach-E electric car, you can also have the car ask you to turn off the alarm after each drive cycle.
4. Our dealerships generally take a long time to deliver new cars to customers. New cars are very advanced with completely new technologies and there is a lot to get used to. The alarm system is one of many technologies I review with customers, and there are many things customers should learn about their new car.
(Answer also question 5)
Tesla no longer has its own press officer in Norway. They are the best-selling car brand so far this year.
