Toyota Australia has “no update” on the ongoing theft problem affecting some of its best-selling models, including the RAV4 SUV, HiLux And LandCruiserwhere millions of dollars were stolen as part of an alleged global crime syndicate.
John Pappas, who replaced Sean Hanley as the company’s vice president of sales and marketing in January 2026, told media at a press conference in Sydney that the company had no news of a solution following a spate of Toyota thefts.
“No further announcements,” Mr. Pappas said. “We said we’re actually developing some real accessories for it. We’ve already launched the beater lock and are currently working on a real immobilizer as well.”
A Toyota Australia spokesperson added that “new technology” upgrades had been introduced, but details of which remained “confidential”.
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Police are investigating links between a series of thefts in Victoria and Queensland involving the LandCruiser 300 Series, LandCruiser Prado, HiLux and, to a lesser extent, the best-selling RAV4 SUV.
Queensland Police Service officers arrested seven suspected thieves in December 2025 who are accused of being part of a crime syndicate that orchestrated the theft of vehicles which were in turn loaded into shipping containers for overseas trade.
More than 380 charges have been filed against the defendants, who are accused of stealing more than 60 Toyotas – with an estimated value of more than $8 million – over a period of just under six weeks.
Authorities claimed the vehicles were stolen via their CAN bus port, which allowed the thieves to take control of the vehicle’s functions and, among other things, disable Toyota’s vehicle tracking.
Last month, the automaker issued a press release saying it was working on a solution to address ongoing concerns from owners – and potential buyers.
“Toyota is committed to continually improving vehicle safety and has gradually introduced advanced protective measures across its product range,” the press release said.
“In 2025, Toyota has taken further steps to improve the safety of several models, including the new HiLux, LandCruiser 300 and LandCruiser Prado, providing even greater peace of mind for owners.”
Again, details of these moves have not been disclosed, with the company suggesting that the secrecy is aimed at withholding information that could benefit potential thieves.
A steering wheel lock has also been added to Toyota’s genuine spare parts catalog for the LandCruiser 300 series, tested by Daily Sparkz alongside aftermarket alternatives.
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