Pyronix is a finalist in this year’s Benchmark Innovation Awards 2025, shortlisted in the Alarm/Detection Innovation category. This award recognises technologies that push the boundaries of threat detection while keeping false alarms to a minimum — and Pyronix’s CarDefender fits that brief precisely.
Developed in response to the sharp rise in vehicle theft across the UK, the CarDefender is a smart, practical solution that extends alarm protection to vehicles using the customer’s existing Pyronix system. With keyless entry attacks on the rise and 129,727 vehicles reported stolen in 2024 alone — that’s roughly one every four minutes — the need for integrated, proactive vehicle protection has never been more urgent.
The drivers behind this trend are complex. High inflation, economic pressure and ongoing shortages of semiconductors continue to push up second-hand car prices, making vehicles — and their parts — attractive targets. Professional gangs often go after prestige models to strip for parts or ship abroad, while opportunists favour quick wins from common vehicles that are easy to steal and harder to trace.
CarDefender addresses both ends of that spectrum. It’s a compact, easy-to-install device that uses advanced shock and tilt detection to monitor for impact, unauthorised movement or steering wheel tampering. If triggered, it can activate the full property alarm and/or send a real-time alert via the HomeControl2.0 app — allowing the homeowner to intervene immediately, even remotely. That rapid response can be the difference between a disrupted theft and a vanished vehicle.
Importantly, the CarDefender has been engineered to reduce nuisance activations. Users can tailor sensitivity and detection modes to suit the environment and vehicle type, whether it’s a car, van, motorbike, caravan or trailer. Its rugged design is conformally coated for durability and long-term use, even in more challenging conditions.
Unlike traditional solutions that focus on immobilisation or post-theft tracking, CarDefender is designed to prevent theft in the first place. It delivers continuous monitoring, even acting as a visual deterrent, and can be set up as an unsupervised zone — meaning the vehicle can leave the wireless range without triggering alarms. Once back within range, it reconnects automatically (or manually via the app), ensuring seamless protection. When configured in its own dedicated zone, the system maintains full Grade 2 compliance.
By offering a simple, cost-effective way to extend protection beyond the home, Pyronix has given both installers and property owners a timely and relevant tool. For many homeowners, their vehicle is their second-most valuable asset — and with CarDefender, they can now secure it as part of a trusted, all-in-one solution.
The CarDefender’s inclusion in the Benchmark shortlist recognises its role in redefining how we approach vehicle security in a connected home environment.
Voting is open now — cast your vote here.