Discovery Insure has classified the Toyota Corolla Cross as a high-risk vehicle for hijacking and theft, informing affected policyholders that additional security measures will now be required to maintain comprehensive cover.
The move follows reports from private security companies indicating a rise in the number of Toyota Corolla Cross vehicles being targeted by criminals since the model was launched in South Africa in 2021.
In a notice sent to customers, Discovery said it had reviewed its claims data and identified a significant increase in theft and hijacking involving certain vehicle models and locations.
The insurer said it regularly assesses the risks associated with the vehicles it covers to ensure policies remain appropriate and sustainable. Its latest analysis found that some vehicles face a heightened risk of theft and hijacking.
As a result, owners of certain models, including the Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 XR, will now be required to install and activate two Crowd Search Sensors.
According to Discovery, the wireless tracking devices are linked to its vehicle recovery network and are designed to improve the chances of recovering stolen vehicles.
The insurer warned that customers who fail to install and activate the required devices within the specified notice period could lose theft and hijacking cover for the affected vehicle.
While the Crowd Search Sensors will initially be installed at no additional cost, policyholders will be charged a Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) fee of R135 per month per vehicle from their next policy anniversary. Discovery said the monthly fee will be waived for customers who already have an approved third-party tracking system installed.
Discovery does not publish a permanent list of vehicles requiring mandatory tracking devices. Existing customers are informed through their policy schedules, while new customers are advised during the quotation process. In some high-risk cases, the insurer may require a dual-tracking system.
The insurer's decision mirrors concerns raised by the private security industry.
Blue Hawk Tactical previously warned that organised crime groups had increasingly targeted Toyota Corolla Cross vehicles across Gauteng. Fidelity Services Group CEO Wahl Bartmann has also said criminals tend to target vehicles that are both popular and able to blend into everyday traffic.
According to Bartmann, common colours such as white and silver make these vehicles less conspicuous, allowing them to move through traffic without attracting attention.
Stolen vehicles are often stripped for parts or illegally re-registered before being sold, making high-volume models especially attractive to organised crime syndicates. Sales data from Naamsa also shows that many of the country's best-selling vehicles are among those most frequently targeted for theft.
Bartmann said hijackings remain concentrated in major urban and peri-urban areas, particularly in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
He advised motorists to remain vigilant, avoid predictable routines, keep valuables out of sight, exercise caution when arriving home and comply with criminals if confronted. He added that portable panic buttons and other rapid-response security devices can improve personal safety during emergencies.
Despite the increased risk classification, security experts caution that hijacking trends should be viewed alongside the number of each vehicle model on South Africa's roads, as more popular vehicles are naturally more likely to feature in crime statistics due to their greater presence.