Forty company cars worth £1 million have been returned to their drivers thanks to being equipped with ALD Automotive’s ProFleet2 telematics system.

The technology provides companies with key management data to improve operating efficiencies, compliance with duty of care best practice and carbon footprint reduction.

However, one spin-off benefit has been that the technology has enabled police forces nationwide to recover stolen vehicles as a result the system’s ‘location service’.

The latest company to benefit from the technology is Hoylake-based Newhall Publications, which operates a 100-strong company car fleet.

A Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi 130 worth more than £21,000 was stolen from outside the Suffolk home of its driver just two weeks after it had been delivered.

On being alerted of the theft, ALD Automotive’s Fleet Services team immediately activated the locater functionality delivered through the unit’s SIM card. Within four hours the vehicle was traced to a location just 15 minutes away from where it was stolen by Suffolk Police and recovered largely undamaged.

The most valuable company car so far recovered as a result of being equipped with ProFleet2 was a £59,300 BMW 630i Convertible 3.0 Sport auto in April last year.

Additionally, the £1m haul of vehicles stolen and subsequently recovered includes a £31,200 BMW 330d SE saloon, a £44,000 Mercedes CLS320 CDI Coupe 3.0 auto, a £38,200 Audi Cabriolet 3.0 TDi Quattro Tiptronic as well as an £11,700 Ford Transit Connect 220 SWB 1.8TDCi.