Hyundai, Kia offer software upgrade to 8.3 mln U.S. vehicles to prevent thefts

WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (Reuters) – Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) and Kia Corp (000270.KS) will provide software upgrades to 8.3 million U.S. vehicles to enable control increasing car or truck thefts working with a system popularized on TikTok and other social media channels, the Korean automakers claimed on Tuesday.

TikTok films demonstrating how to steal automobiles produced from 2015 to 2019 devoid of force-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft units has distribute nationwide. This experienced led to at the very least 14 described crashes and eight fatalities,” the Countrywide Freeway Targeted traffic Protection Administration (NHTSA) reported.

The cost-free up grade will be offered for 3.8 million Hyundai and 4.5 million Kia automobiles in the United States, the automakers and NHTSA reported.

The application “updates the theft alarm application logic to increase the size of the alarm sound from 30 seconds to a single minute and calls for the important to be in the ignition swap to switch the car or truck on,” NHTSA stated.

TikTok did not straight away respond to a ask for for remark.

United states of america Right now documented past month that two important coverage corporations experienced stopped featuring new policies for Hyundai and Kia vehicles at substantial threat of theft.

Many 2015-19 design year Hyundai and affiliate Kia autos have no digital immobilizers, which reduce crack-ins and bypassing the ignition. The characteristic is regular on almost all motor vehicles built by other companies all through that period.

U.S. theft statements in 2022 were being virtually two times as common for Hyundai and Kia vehicles in contrast with all other makers among 2015-2019 cars, Insurance policies Institute for Highway Safety details present.

The group said right after the Korean-auto thefts, which started in 2021, got major social media focus in Wisconsin and then distribute, in general promises on Hyundai and Kia thefts for each insured car yr soared to extra than 30 instances the 2019 stage.

Hyundai will also provide consumers with a window sticker alerting would-be thieves that the car is outfitted with anti-theft defense.

The first Hyundai update will include far more than 1 million 2017-2020 Elantra, 2015-2019 Sonata and 2020-2021 Location model 12 months autos. The software program up grade is scheduled to be readily available by June for autos that continue being suitable.

Kia said commenced notifying owners about the improve and anticipates making it obtainable to most owners about the next couple months.

The automakers have supplied additional than 26,000 steering wheel locks given that November 2022 to 77 regulation enforcement companies in 12 states.

Kia reported it also proceeds “to make steering wheel locks accessible at no cost by means of fascinated regional law enforcement organizations,” matter to source.

All Hyundai cars manufactured because November 2021 are equipped with an motor immobilizer as conventional equipment.

(This story has been corrected to take care of the day of the week in paragraph 1)

Reporting by David Shepardson Enhancing by Chizu Nomiyama and Richard Chang

Our Specifications: The Thomson Reuters Have faith in Principles.