You are correct about the power the tracking of vehicles gives the government.
It won't be long before they will track your road use by your phone. Even if you're a passenger in a car they will tax you because you are still using the road.
How long does it take to slow down to orbital speed?
If they use the same propulsion system they would have turn turn the vehicle around about halfway. Unless they are going to use air-braking at Mars. Is there enough atmosphere to do that at that mass and speed?