Having your car’s wiring damaged by gnawing rats may seem statistically unlikely, yet most motorists have heard stories of rodents causing costly damage to vehicles.
While the risk of rodent damage is relatively low in South Africa, it is a significant issue in Germany, according to K&K Handelsgesellschaft.
The company reports that more than 200,000 cases of rodent-related vehicle damage were recorded in Germany last year, resulting in costs exceeding €150 million for vehicle owners and insurers.
To address the problem, K&K Handelsgesellschaft has developed a Marten Defence System designed to protect vehicles from rodents and martens, a member of the weasel family commonly found across Europe. The system is currently being showcased at Automechanika Frankfurt, the world’s largest automotive aftermarket exhibition.
According to the company, rodent-related damage has become increasingly costly in modern vehicles. Cars equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) often require recalibration after repairs, while electric vehicles feature high-voltage wiring systems that demand specialist repair procedures.
The Marten Defence System works by emitting a low-volume, high-frequency sound whenever a vehicle is stationary. While harmless to animals, the sound is sufficiently unpleasant to deter rats and martens without disturbing pets or other wildlife.
Research conducted by the company found that older rodents may become less sensitive to ultrasonic deterrents. As a result, the latest version of the system also incorporates a non-lethal electric shock mechanism that activates when rodents come into contact with the underside of the vehicle.
The system is automatically armed using a motion detector that recognises when a vehicle is parked. It remains active until the vehicle is driven again.
In Europe, the Marten Defence System has already received endorsements from several major vehicle manufacturers, including Volkswagen, Stellantis and Ford.
For more information, visit "https://www.kuk-marderabwehr.de/en/"https://www.kuk-marderabwehr.de/en/.
