Hyundai and Kia roll out free software patch to keep some cars from getting stolen

New York
CNN
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Hyundai and Kia are presenting a new absolutely free software package patch to proprietors of 8.3 million cars that are so uncomplicated to steal that some insurance policy companies refuse to give protection for them in particular markets.

The cars in concern, 2015-2019 Hyundai and Kia designs with flip-critical ignitions — as opposed to push-button get started — are roughly two times as probable to be stolen as other vehicles of a similar age. The rationale: Lots of of these autos lack some of the standard automobile theft avoidance technological innovation integrated in most other cars, even in those people many years, in accordance to the Freeway Reduction Details Institute.

The models in concern don’t have digital immobilizers, which count on a computer chip in the vehicle and one more in the vital that converse to affirm that the key belongs with that car. Without having the correct critical, an immobilizer should do just that — cease the vehicle from relocating.

These versions grew to become the matter of a social media craze in which robbers filmed them selves and others stealing Hyundai and Kia automobiles and took them on joyrides. Thefts of these automobiles resulted in at minimum 14 crashes and eight fatalities, in accordance to the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Basic safety Administration.

The two South Korean automakers have come up with a software patch to fix the problem, the automakers and NHTSA reported Tuesday. Hyundai and Kia operate as separate corporations in the United States, but Hyundai Motor Team owns a significant stake in Kia, and several Hyundai and Kia versions share considerably of their engineering.

The patch will be mounted free of charge on vulnerable versions, with software package that requires an real critical in the ignition to transform the motor vehicle on. (Burglars have been working with the guidelines of USB cables to change the ignition switch) The software program will also block the auto from becoming began right after the doorways have been locked employing the important fob remote control. The automobile will have to have to be unlocked just before it can be begun. The computer software also extends the size of the alarm audio from 30 seconds to a whole minute. Hyundai dealers will also affix window stickers stating that the vehicle has anti-theft software put in.

Hyundai will commence providing the application immediately for the most well-known — and most routinely stolen — vulnerable designs. Kia explained it has started out to offer you the update to some clients and expects to make it available to affected motor vehicles “over the subsequent several months.”

Correction: An earlier model of this tale misstated when Kia’s program would be installed.