Various systems and methods are presented regarding incorporating connected/smart vehicle technology into a legacy system vehicle. A smart key can be communicatively coupled to a digital/electronic interface, wherein the key and the interface are co-located on a vehicle. One or more portable devices (e.g., one or more cellphones) can be configured to communicate with the interface and, accordingly, operate the vehicle in a manner similar to if the key was in the possession of an entity wanting to gain access/operate the vehicle. Prior to initiating operation of the vehicle, the respective portable devices can be synchronized/authenticated to enable the respective portable device to access and command operation of the interface and the co-located key.

A vehicle includes an on-board navigation device configured to repeatedly obtain the location of the vehicle through GPS and an on-board immobilizer device. The on-board immobilizer device is configured to activate a remote immobilizer when the location of the vehicle, which is obtained from the on-board navigation device, is outside a predetermined geographical region. The on-board immobilizer device is configured to prohibit operation of a drive system of the vehicle while the remote immobilizer is active. When the remote immobilizer is activated, the activation of the remote immobilizer is notified to a terminal of an authentic user of the vehicle by directly the vehicle or via a server.

A method to authenticate operators of motor vehicles includes obtaining, based on a driver's license, operator information of an operator of a motor vehicle. The method further includes authenticating, by a Vehicle Identification and Secure Operating Program (VISOP) running on an onboard computer of the motor vehicle, the operator information with a Motor Vehicle Department (MVD). The method determines, based on the authenticating and vehicle identifying information pertaining to the motor vehicle, whether the operator is approved to operate the motor vehicle. The method performs biometric identification to verify that the driver's license matches the operator. The method prevents the motor vehicle from starting, responsive to the operator not being approved to operate the motor vehicle, and allows the motor vehicle to start, responsive to the operator being approved to operate the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle can include the VMAC when wirelessly transmitting operator information and vehicle identifying information for self-reporting to a passing LEO, e.g., to Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs). This enables LEOs to make safer decisions in pulling over a potential suspect to better protect the public and themselves.

An electrified vehicle includes a power storage device, a charger that charges the power storage device using power from an external power source, and a charging inlet that is connectable to a charging connector of the external power source and connected to the charger via a power line, an openable and closable charging lid that covers the charging inlet from the outside, a lock mechanism that locks the charging lid in a closed state, and a control device that controls charging of the power storage device by the charger and the lock mechanism and that is able to rewrite a program via wireless communication. The control device locks the charging lid in the closed state by the lock mechanism while rewriting of the program is being executed.

A processor of a vehicle control device: acquires regular vehicle stop position information indicating a regular vehicle stop position of a vehicle from a database that stores history information on a vehicle stop position of the vehicle; when it is detected that the vehicle has stopped, requests latest position information on the vehicle; acquires the latest position information on the vehicle; when the vehicle meets a prespecified requirement for engine start lock, determines whether to activate the engine start lock of the vehicle by at least comparing the regular vehicle stop position information and the latest position information; and when it is determined to activate the engine start lock, activates the engine start lock.