As connected vehicles become increasingly sophisticated, many motorists assume that built-in tracking technology can help recover a stolen vehicle quickly. However, Thatcham Research has warned there is a “genuine and growing” gap between consumer expectations and the reality of what connected car services can actually deliver. The warning follows the widely reported case of technology analyst Ian Fogg, whose Kia EV6 was stolen from outside his home while he was abroad. Although Kia was able to determine the vehicle’s location through its Kia Connect service, repeated delays in sharing that information meant the car ultimately disappeared and was later traced to Lithuania. The incident has reignited debate about whether connected vehicle services are keeping pace with customer expectations, and whether legal, technical and regulatory barriers are preventing manufacturers from doing more to help recover stolen vehicles. This is not just a Kia issue, but a connectivity and legal issue that all OEMs face. Many drivers mistakenly believe that connected vehicle apps function like dedicated stolen vehicle recovery systems. In reality, services such as Kia Connect are primarily designed to provide convenience features including vehicle status, remote climate control, charging information and location services. Kia stressed that its connectivity platform is not intended to operate as a real-time stolen vehicle tracking service. A spokesperson said: “The connectivity features available in Kia vehicles are intended to enhance customer convenience and are not designed as a vehicle tracking system. Accordingly, they do not provide real-time tracking capabilities for stolen vehicles.” This distinction is significant. Unlike specialist tracking providers that actively monitor stolen vehicles and liaise directly with police, most manufacturer-connected services rely on customer support processes rather than dedicated theft response teams. In Fogg’s case, he said Kia’s customer service was only accessible through online support tickets. According to his account, location updates