Hyundai has introduced a free software program replace meant to cease a nationwide rash of thefts that has left some Hyundai homeowners unable to search out insurance coverage for his or her vehicles.
The corporate says, “The know-how shall be launched as a service marketing campaign for nearly 4 million automobiles starting on February 14.” It takes sellers “lower than one hour” to put in and comes with a window sticker “to alert would-be thieves that the automobile is supplied with enhanced anti-theft know-how.”
A Nationwide Theft Wave
Sure older Hyundai and Kia automobiles have grow to be widespread targets for thieves after a sequence of social media movies confirmed viewers the right way to steal them with a screwdriver and a USB cable.
Hyundai and Kia are partly owned by South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Firm and infrequently construct automobiles with widespread components.
A latest insurance coverage business report confirmed that loss claims for Hyundai and Kia fashions from these years have been almost twice as widespread as claims for automobiles made by another producer.
Base fashions of explicit 2015-or-newer Hyundai and 2011-or-newer Kia fashions lack an anti-theft gadget known as an “engine immobilizer.” The anti-theft gadget prevents a automotive from beginning until the right transponder is constructed into the sensible key.
Dearer trims of older Hyundai and Kia fashions are likely to have immobilizers. However base fashions don’t, making them simpler prey than most vehicles for automotive thieves.
Each Hyundai and Kia say all their 2022 and 2023 fashions use immobilizers.
The rash of thefts has induced not less than two main insurance coverage corporations to decline protection on some Hyundai and Kia fashions.
The Corporations Reply
Each corporations have instructed us to count on a software program answer quickly. Within the meantime, Hyundai sellers provide an anti-theft package for buy, whereas Kia has begun providing free steering wheel locks by means of many police departments.
We contacted Kia to ask if Hyundai’s announcement means their software program answer shall be obtainable quickly. Kia responded with the next assertion, “Kia has accomplished growth of enhanced safety software program to limit the unauthorized operation of auto ignition programs on sure fashions not outfitted with an immobilizer. Kia has already began notifying homeowners about this free software program improve and anticipates making it obtainable to most homeowners of affected automobiles over the subsequent few months.”
Hyundai, in the meantime, plans a phased recall course of to replace vehicles.
Hyundai’s Replace Schedule: