WASHINGTON, Dec 16 : Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia agreed on Tuesday to retrofit 7 million U.S. autos to deal with theft issues and set up prevention tools on all new autos to resolve an investigation by a bipartisan coalition of 35 attorneys normal.
The state attorneys normal stated the automakers will supply free zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors to homeowners of eligible autos, together with autos beforehand solely eligible for the businesses’ software program updates. They additionally agreed to equip all future U.S. autos with engine immobilizer anti-theft expertise to assist curb automotive thefts utilizing a way popularized on TikTok and different social media channels.
Hyundai stated the {hardware} replace can be provided on practically 4 million autos, whereas Kia stated it coated about 3.1 million U.S. autos.
TikTok movies exhibiting easy methods to steal automobiles with out push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft units have led to no less than 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities within the United States, regulators stated in 2023.Â
AUTOMAKERS TO PAY RESTITUTION
Hyundai and Kia will even pay as much as $9 million in restitution to shoppers and to states to defray the prices of the investigation. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stated the price of putting in ignition cylinder protectors on all eligible autos may exceed $500 million, citing estimates from the automakers.
“By failing to include industry-standard anti-theft technology in their vehicles, Hyundai and Kia unleashed a wave of auto thefts that cost Minnesotans their cars, their hard-earned money, and sometimes even their lives,” Ellison stated.
Hyundai stated resolving the investigation is one other step ahead in addressing thefts involving sure 2011 by 2022 model-year autos with out engine immobilizers. “This cooperative agreement builds upon Hyundai’s ongoing efforts to enhance vehicle security in response to a method of theft popularized on social media,” Hyundai stated.Â
Kia stated the settlement “is the latest in a series of steps that Kia has taken to support our customers who have been impacted by criminals.” Kia stated the zinc-sleeve {hardware} modification combats the theft technique impressed by social media “by reinforcing the ignition cylinder body and preventing its removal.”
Once eligible shoppers obtain notices in early 2026, they may have till the top of March 2027 to get the ignition cylinder protector put in at native dealerships.
In 2023, Hyundai and Kia agreed to a client class-action lawsuit settlement price $200 million over rampant automotive thefts of the Korean automakers’ autos, in keeping with attorneys for the homeowners. The automakers additionally in 2023 provided software program upgrades to eight.3 million U.S. autos with out anti-theft immobilizers.