Vehicle tracking unit for controling operable vehicle devices using a vehicle data bus and related methods

A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle and at least one operable vehicle device connected thereto, the at least one operable vehicle device responsive to at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus, the vehicle tracking unit comprising:

• a vehicle position determining device;
• a wireless communications device;
• and
• a controller cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a monitoring station;
• said controller generating the at least one data bus code on the vehicle data bus to control the at least one operable vehicle device based upon a command signal provided by the monitoring station and received by said wireless communications device;
• said controller also cooperating with said wireless communications device to send a response message to the monitoring station based upon receiving the command signal.