Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp will provide software program upgrades to eight.3 million U.S. autos to assist curb rising automotive thefts utilizing a technique popularized on TikTok and different social media channels, the Korean automakers mentioned on Monday.
TikTok movies exhibiting find out how to steal automobiles constituted of 2015 to 2019 with out push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft gadgets has unfold nationwide. This had led to at the very least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities,” the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) mentioned.
The free improve will likely be supplied for 3.8 million Hyundai and 4.5 million Kia autos in america, the automakers and NHTSA mentioned.
The software program “updates the theft alarm software program logic to increase the size of the alarm sound from 30 seconds to at least one minute and requires the important thing to be within the ignition change to show the car on,” NHTSA mentioned.
TikTok didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
USA At the moment reported final month that two main insurance coverage corporations had stopped providing new insurance policies for Hyundai and Kia autos at excessive danger of theft.
Many 2015-19 mannequin 12 months Hyundai and affiliate Kia autos haven’t any digital immobilizers, which forestall break-ins and bypassing the ignition. The function is normal on practically all autos made by different producers throughout that interval.
U.S. theft claims in 2022 have been practically twice as widespread for Hyundai and Kia autos in contrast with all different producers amongst 2015-2019 autos,
Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Safetydata present.
The group mentioned after the Korean-car thefts, which started in 2021, acquired vital social media consideration in Wisconsin after which unfold, general claims on Hyundai and Kia thefts per insured car 12 months soared to greater than 30 occasions the 2019 stage.
Hyundai can even present prospects with a window sticker alerting would-be thieves that the car is provided with anti-theft safety.
The preliminary Hyundai improve will cowl greater than 1 million 2017-2020 Elantra, 2015-2019 Sonata and 2020-2021 Venue mannequin 12 months autos. The software program improve is scheduled to be accessible by June for autos that stay eligible.
Kia mentioned began notifying homeowners concerning the improve and anticipates making it accessible to most homeowners over the following few months.
The automakers have offered greater than 26,000 steering wheel locks since November 2022 to 77 legislation enforcement companies in 12 states.
Kia mentioned it additionally continues “to make steering wheel locks accessible for gratis by way of native legislation enforcement companies,” topic to provide.
All Hyundai autos produced since November 2021 are outfitted with an engine immobilizer as normal tools.
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