What’s this please?

[TaycanJo]

Hi, apologies for the ignorance but I got two of these with my new Taycan. Can anyone tell me what they’re for?

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[pEAkfrEAk]

PVTS (Porsche vehicle tracking system) Fob

 

[W1NGE]

Hi, apologies for the ignorance but I got two of these with my new Taycan. Can anyone tell me what they’re for?

It's called a 'Driver Card' and as pointed out above part of the Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (PVTS / PVTS+). This is a Porsche Connect subscription service (operated by Vodafone in UK) and if you've not signed up for it these cards aren't active.

Cards can be activated with a valid subscription BUT must be paired to your car and can only be performed by your Dealer.

Details of the service offering (and integration with My Porsche App etc) are in the Porsche Good To Know and the on line manual.

Do not lose these cards even if not active - keep them in the glovebox and return when you sell the car.

If they are active then follow instructions on use and DON'T leave in the glovebox!

 

[Explorer]

Some more info
Manual PVTS (for the 911 but same system)

 

[W1NGE]

PVTS+ is available in North America but you need to subscribe to the service.

The driver cards may be different and may not be issued until you subscribe to the service.

Check the standard specs for any Porsche car and the following will be listed (taken from Porsche Cars NA website):

Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (PVTS) includes: extended vehicle monitoring system, automatic theft detection with silent alarm connected to 24/7 security center through vehicle, personal notification of customer to verify theft and secure vehicle in cooperation with local authorities​

​

To use the PVTS, you need to purchase the Car Security Package from the Porsche Connect Store. For further information on follow on costs and availability in your country, please visit www.porsche.com/connect or consult your Porsche Dealer​

​

Doubt its a privacy issue - NA doesn't have GDPR (yet).

 

[ciaranob]

Under Porsche "recommended" Connect Services you'll see a near 'equivalent' option that in my area costs ca $280 per annum. Provides 24hr/7 days week GPS tracking, alarm notification etc via the Porsche 'Security Operations Center'.

However seems to rely on the onboard equipment/PCM etc vs a dedicated device as above - so perhaps not quite the same but the only Porsche offering I am aware of in the US as std.

 

[W1NGE]

Under Porsche "recommended" Connect Services you'll see a near 'equivalent' option that in my area costs ca $280 per annum. Provides 24hr/7 days week GPS tracking, alarm notification etc via the Porsche 'Security Operations Center'.

However seems to rely on the onboard equipment/PCM etc vs a dedicated device as above - so perhaps not quite the same but the only Porsche offering I am aware of in the US as std.

The UK / European system is integrated into the PCM and the portable fob / driver card works in conjunction. If you don't have the driver card on your person when driving the car then a silent theft alert is raised to the Security Operation Centre (SOC) and flagged on My Porsche App. Leaving the driver card in the car and locking the car disables the system. Having the driver card simply gives a higher level of theft protection as it must be present when driving the car. If your car is stolen and you haven't left the driver card in the car then a theft alert is triggered and the car tracked. Without it, you have to know your car has been stolen in the first place.

Personally I don't like the system but had it now on several Porsches and this is the latest incarnation. Historiccally, there was a separate tracking device which could be managed remotely by the SOC for troubleshooting etc but now the SOC can only monitor thefts etc and any re-pairing / work must be performed by Porsche.

Ironically, I had a problem with mine today due to a low driver card battery which ultimately triggered a theft alert. Somewhat unhelpfully the car only reported "Driver Card Missing" in the central tube rather than "Driver Card Battery Low"!

More control available via My Porsche App.

 

[ciaranob]

The UK / European system is integrated into the PCM and the portable fob / driver card works in conjunction. If you don't have the driver card on your person when driving the car then a silent theft alert is raised to the Security Operation Centre (SOC) and flagged on My Porsche App. Leaving the driver card in the car and locking the car disables the system. Having the driver card simply gives a higher level of theft protection as it must be present when driving the car. If your car is stolen and you haven't left the driver card in the car then a theft alert is triggered and the car tracked. Without it, you have to know your car has been stolen in the first place.

Personally I don't like the system but had it now on several Porsches and this is the latest incarnation. Historiccally, there was a separate tracking device which could be managed remotely by the SOC for troubleshooting etc but now the SOC can only monitor thefts etc and any re-pairing / work must be performed by Porsche.

Ironically, I had a problem with mine today due to a low driver card battery which ultimately triggered a theft alert. Somewhat unhelpfully the car only reported "Driver Card Missing" in the central tube rather than "Driver Card Battery Low"!

More control available via My Porsche App.

Indeed this US service may well also provide a card - have no idea as have never used it but just didn't see it mentioned in the US service description but makes total sense that it ought to if needed.

 

[4thPcar]

Apple Tags!

 

[Midlifecrisis]

Apple Tags!

I had wondered about doing that and have a friend who has done it with his BMW. I would be interested to know where you put it... but then again it would be better not to post that on an open forum!

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