Vehicles of The Future: David Lichter Of Lock Horns On The Leading Edge Technologies That Are Making Cars & Trucks Smarter, Safer, and More Sustainable
An Interview With David Leichner
Surround yourself with good people and conduct your business with the utmost integrity — people will treat you the way you treat them.
The automotive industry has been disrupted recently with new exciting technologies that have made cars and trucks much smarter, much safer, and much more sustainable and more environmentally friendly.
What other exciting disruptive technologies will we see in the next few years? How much longer will fossil fuel powered cars be produced? When will we see fully autonomous vehicles? Can we overcome the challenge of getting stuck in traffic? As cars become “moving computers”, do we have to worry about people hacking our cars? How else will our driving experience be different over the next five years? To address these questions, Authority Magazine started a new interview series about “Exciting Leading Edge Technologies That Are Making Cars & Trucks Smarter, Safer, and More Sustainable.” In this series we are talking to leaders of automotive companies, automotive tech companies, EV companies, and other tech leaders who can talk about the vehicles of the future. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing David Lichter.
David Lichter is the Founder and Owner of Lock Horns, whose locking system patent is the foundation for their first product to market: Wheel Locks… that Actually Lock!™ David has been a scientist in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries for >20 years, and applies his expertise in the scientific method, organization, and problem solving to entrepreneurship — to create, innovate, and drive progress. In 2009 David woke up to his new car on cinder blocks, wheels nearly stolen. After searching the market unsuccessfully for a higher quality wheel locking system, he finally decided to ‘reinvent the wheel’ lock to create a superior theft deterrent, and ‘lock horns’ with thieves to help millions of vehicle owners protect themselves and their families.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started in the automotive industry?
I am new to the automotive industry, and how I got involved is a wild story!
I am a scientist in the biotech industry and have spent the past 20+ years working on innovative medicines for patients who are struggling with diseases, mostly cancer and inflammatory disorders. I have a range of other passions which I’ve merged into my career. I volunteer in STEM education initiatives focused on developing the next generation of scientists and on mentorship for underserved/underrepresented populations. I also have a passion for health and fitness, so have been a certified personal trainer as a fun side job.
My brain got started in the automotive industry on a difficult day in 2009, when I woke up to find my newly purchased black Honda Accord coupe on cinder blocks, with 2 wheels completely removed, mid-theft. Many years later, I decided to invent a product to help protect people from wheel theft and am so proud to have founded Lock Horns.
Through my different career ventures, I have always been focused on helping people. I have been so privileged and blessed to be able to do so, and it is very gratifying.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
The most interesting story from my automotive career is the day which motivated founding Lock Horns.
I was in my late-20s and had just excitedly purchased my first car, a sleek, black, 2009 Honda Accord coupe. To me it was the perfect balance of sporty and practical for a single guy living in a major metropolitan area, and it represented freedom and independence. This pride, as well as my sense of safety and security, was shaken and attacked mere weeks later with the attempted theft.
I was roused awake by the police early Sunday morning, somewhere in the 4–6 AM range. They showed me my car on cinder blocks, two wheels completely removed, mid-theft. Thankfully, the thieves weren’t successful — they fled when they saw police in the area. I was furious that someone tried to steal something I worked so hard to purchase. It was an invasive and violating feeling.
‘Why would someone want my Honda wheels?! I don’t drive a fancy car!’ I naïvely said. I didn’t fully appreciate what a quick, easy, lucrative crime wheel theft was.
After the near-theft, I was told to purchase ‘wheel locks’. I had never heard of them and was disappointed when I went to the auto body store the next day. First, the wheel ‘lock’ didn’t have a lock, so it felt like a misnomer — instead, it was a lug nut with a specialized design and complimentary fitting adapter. Second, the product’s adapter could also remove any other customer’s lug nuts who purchased the same product I did — so a thief could still easily steal my wheels. Wheel locks may slow down some thieves, but the ‘sophisticated’ ones could have many of the common adapters. I was disturbed by this and felt this ‘solution’ was insufficient to give me peace of mind that the attempted crime wouldn’t happen again.
Ok wonderful. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. Can you tell our readers about the most interesting projects you are working on now?
The near theft of my wheels gave me the desire to create a better solution to the problem. Finally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to ‘set the wheels in motion’ and see if we could devise a simple but elegant solution to the problem — create a wheel lock that actually locks!
I took my concept and a few representative designs to a fantastic engineer, who helped me refine the concept, create prototypes, and we filed a utility patent together on the technology.
I founded the company Lock Horns™ LLC, and we have launched selling Wheel Locks… that Actually Lock!™
Our product has a unique, novel design which aims to be a superior theft deterrent. It contains double-locking technology for protection:
- Lock & key — each unit contains a lock and corresponding key, with a 4-digit individualized code. Multiple iterations of the product for customers should help build confidence and peace of mind for the customer that a thief won’t have their iteration. Removing the lock exposes a hexagonal cavity which houses our adapter to fit in, connect with a lug wrench, which is needed installation and removal of the lug.
- Cap key — we added a cap which screws on to the top of the lug. It is intended to protect the lock from dirt and debris from the road but doubles as a secondary deterrent to slow a potential thief down.
The invention is so novel and unique that I suggest visiting our website to see the product images and video of how it works: lockhornsusa.com.
How do you think this might change the world?
Our aim at Lock Horns is to change the world by helping deter and reduce wheel theft.
Most don’t realize how common automobile theft, and specifically wheel theft, truly is. Data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau suggests car theft in the US occurs about once every 32 seconds. Wheel theft is easier than car theft, so I assume it occurs at a comparable rate. Car and wheel theft are most frequent around major cities, and common cars and luxury cars are both targets. Wheel and tire theft claims increased in 2023, according to WheelNet, and Premium Services reports that wheel and tire theft claims ranged from hundreds to $17,000, with an average of $2,800 for four tires and wheels.
Wheel theft is a quick, easy, and lucrative crime. It takes thieves mere minutes to accomplish, and they can dress in disguise to mask their identities. Most car owners don’t think when they buy a new car that they need to lock their wheels. I certainly didn’t. Most people may not have extra thousands of dollars lying around to spend on replacement wheels shortly after purchasing a car.
We aim to protect customers from feeling the invasive feeling of being robbed, that all too common terrible pit in one’s stomach returning to their parking spot and finding their car on cinder blocks with no wheels. We also hope to protect their investment and keep money in their pockets.
Keeping “Black Mirror” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks of this technology that people should think more deeply about?
I certainly hope not and can’t foresee any downsides to this technology. It is aimed at helping people, and I truly hope our invention helps advance the field, reduce theft, and save people money.
I have no doubt that thieves may still try to find ways to dismantle our technology, but we’ll continue to learn and improve the product over time.
What are a few things that most excite you about the automotive industry as it is today? Why?
The automotive industry is full of innovative minds, eager to improve with disruptive new technologies. I have been so excited to see the progress with electric cars, self-driving vehicles, and other technologies to help reduce the burdens of carbon emissions in the environment.
What are a few things that most concern you about the automotive industry as it is today? What must be done to address these challenges?
My concerns about the automotive industry are more about the humans driving them! I live in a densely packed city and find that road rage is still rampant as people are busy, stressed, and often rush from place to place without taking sufficient time to travel safely.
Based on your vantage point as an insider in the automotive industry, what other exciting disruptive technologies will we see in the next few years? Can you share some of the new developments that will make vehicles smarter, safer, and more sustainable?
As discussed above, I find the advances in electric vehicles most exciting. However, I am biased and hope Lock Horns’ Wheel Locks… that Actually Lock will soon be seen by others as an exciting, disruptive technology!
In your opinion, how much longer will fossil fuel powered cars be produced? When do you think EVs will be the majority of vehicles in use? Can you explain?
As a scientist, it is truly exciting to see the advances in this area. I studied the effects of global warming early on, more than 30 years ago, during a school science fair! As more auto models have an electric option, costs come down, and charging station accessibility increases, adoption is likely to follow.
How else will our driving experience be different over the next five years?
We are likely to continue to see increased use of rideshare apps in major cities, along with scooters, bikes, and other easy and convenient technologies. Hopefully these innovations will continue to reduce the burden on the environment. I’d also love to see further disruptions like mine to improve theft deterrence!
What are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Automotive Industry?
I’m new to automotive industry but have been in the high-pressure biotech industry for >20 years, so will share 5 general tips for creating a successful career:
1. Carpe Diem — have courage to take calculated risks, and seize opportunities to learn, listen and try new things.
2. Keep Calm and Carry On — stay calm, composed and professional during stressful situations. Take deep breaths, try not to sweat the small stuff, and let bad experiences be lessons and short-lived moments which roll of your back over time.
3. Do something you love and which benefits others and have fun while aiming to change the world!
4. Surround yourself with good people and conduct your business with the utmost integrity — people will treat you the way you treat them.
5. Prioritization — take time to define what work/life balance is right for you. Have a ‘short-game’ and ‘long-game’ focus and goals and prioritize tasks what need to get done immediately.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I have devoted my career to helping people, whether it be through science, drug development, fitness, and now theft deterrence. Mentorship and community service has been extremely important to me over time, and I would love for each to become standard cultures within business.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Please check out our website at lockhornsusa.com for product information and to order your Wheel Locks…that Actually Lock! Please join the Lock Horns family by linking with us on Facebook and Instagram!
We launched the company with M12x1.5 in both silver/chrome and black. It was our proof of concept to establish the company, technology and brand. The feedback has been extremely positive so far, so we’re steadily gaining traction and momentum. We have 4 more cone sizes in development right now — M12 x 1.25, M14 x 1.5, M14 x 2, ½ x 20 — which should be available soon. After that we aim to have lug bolts for German cars and the mag seat lugs for Toyotas!
Thank you so much for the time you spent doing this interview. This was very inspirational, and we wish you continued success.
Thank you for the opportunity!
About The Interviewer: David Leichner is a veteran of the Israeli high-tech industry with significant experience in the areas of cyber and security, enterprise software and communications. At Cybellum, a leading provider of Product Security Lifecycle Management, David is responsible for creating and executing the marketing strategy and managing the global marketing team that forms the foundation for Cybellum’s product and market penetration. Prior to Cybellum, David was CMO at SQream and VP Sales and Marketing at endpoint protection vendor, Cynet. David is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Jerusalem Technology College. He holds a BA in Information Systems Management and an MBA in International Business from the City University of New York.
