JAKARTA - It is no longer a secret that Hyundai and Kia production cars are vulnerable to theft in the United States (US). In recent years, the South Korean manufacturer duo has often been highlighted because their models are considered easy to break into. This fact is strengthened after the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released a list of the most stolen cars in the US throughout 2023, where the top three positions are dominated by Hyundai and Kia models.
Now the two manufacturers are reportedly officially agreeing to a major step to dampen the disturbing wave of vehicle theft in the United States.
On Tuesday, December 16, the two companies agreed to retrofit more than 4 million vehicles to install theft prevention equipment. This agreement emerged as a result of a long investigation led by a cross-party coalition of 35 state attorneys general.
Reported by Autonews, Thursday, December 18, this step was taken following a theft trend popularized through viral videos on TikTok and other social media. The theft modus targets vehicles that do not have a standard start-up button and immobilizer device. The impact is very fatal; regulators have recorded at least 14 accidents and eight fatalities reported in 2023 due to criminal acts inspired by social media content.
In this latest agreement, Hyundai and Kia will provide zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors free of charge to eligible vehicle owners. This component serves to strengthen the ignition cylinder body so that it is not easily dismantled by thieves. In addition to repairing the old unit, the two manufacturers are also committed to equipping all future new model vehicles with anti-theft engine immobilizer technology.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said that the negligence of including this industry standard technology had previously caused great losses to the public, both financially and in terms of life. Based on the manufacturer's estimates, the cost of installing protective devices on millions of vehicles is estimated to cost a fantastic cost of up to more than 500 million US dollars or equivalent to Rp. 8.3 trillion.
Restitution and Repair Schedule
Not only physical repairs, Hyundai and Kia also agreed to pay restitution of up to 9 million US dollars (equivalent to Rp. 150 billion) to consumers and state governments to cover the cost of the investigation. Hyundai called this cooperative agreement a step forward to protect owners of vehicles from model years 2011 to 2022 who are most vulnerable. Meanwhile, Kia emphasized that this hardware modification is proof of their support for customers affected by the criminal act.
For consumers in the United States whose vehicles qualify, official notifications will be sent in early 2026. Vehicle owners have until the end of March 2027 to take their cars to their local dealers to get the safety device installed for free. This step complements an earlier effort in 2023, in which the two companies have offered software updates for 8.3 million vehicles and settled a class action lawsuit worth 200 million US dollars (equivalent to Rp3.3 trillion).
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