"Under the nationwide settlement, the companies will offer a free repair to all eligible vehicles at a cost that could top $500 million, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said. Hyundai and Kia must also outfit all future vehicles sold in the U.S. with a key piece of technology called an engine immobilizer and pay up to $4.5 million of restitution to people whose vehicles were damaged by thieves."
"Thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles soared in part because beginning in 2021, videos posted to TikTok and other social media demonstrated how someone could steal a car with just a screwdriver and a USB cable. Minneapolis reported an 836% increase in Hyundai and Kia thefts from 2021 to 2022. Ellison announced an investigation into the automakers in early 2023."
Hyundai and Kia will offer free repairs for about 9 million eligible vehicles, with costs to the companies that could top $500 million. All future U.S. models must include engine immobilizers and the companies will pay up to $4.5 million in restitution to people whose vehicles were damaged by thieves. Thirty-five states joined the settlement; eligible models date from 2011 through 2022. Thefts surged after 2021 when videos demonstrated a simple method using a screwdriver and USB cable, prompting an investigation in early 2023. The absence of immobilizers in many U.S. models contributed to thefts, crashes, injuries and fatalities.
Read at Fast Company
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