For the first time in the history of the Australasian Branch awards, Outstanding Contribution to the Reduction of Motor Vehicle Theft was given to a manufacturer. Subaru Australia were recognised for their pro-active improvements to vehicle security, in particular changes to immobiliser systems and the application of microdot technology to reduce high theft rates among WRX vehicles.

In late 2001, Subaru voluntarily recalled some 10,000 WRX vehicles manufactured between 1999 and 2001. Owners were offered the option of fitting a keypad to the immobiliser system free of charge. This keypad requires the entry of a four-digit user-code in addition to the original key, and effectively prevents the “component replacement” theft MO. Further, DataDot component identification was introduced to Subaru vehicles from late 2002 onwards, including the marking of parts not usually marked by other manufacturers. Self-voiding VIN labels were fitted to all doors, the bonnet and boot lid from all MY03 vehicles onwards.   

Following the introduction of these measures, the theft rates of late-model WRX vehicles in Australia have decreased dramatically.