12/16/2024
Hyundai, Kia thefts drop over 50%: study
A software update was “extremely effective” at thwarting theft tactics popularized by viral social media videos, per Highway Loss Data Institute research.
Dive Brief: A free software update being offered for Hyundai and Kia vehicles originally sold without electronic immobilizers and push-button ignition systems has cut vehicle theft rates by over half, according to a report from the Highway Loss Data Institute.
The anti-theft software upgrade launched as a service campaign for almost 4 million Hyundai and 4.5 million Kia vehicles beginning in February 2023. It was rolled out in phases through May at no charge to customers. The spike in theft claims occurred after viral videos were posted on social media during the pandemic, which showed how easy it was to steal some Hyundai and Kia models that lacked factory-installed immobilizers or push-button ignition systems.
Dive Insight: The software update helps address what had become a troubling trend for Hyundai and Kia owners: their vehicles had become among the most-commonly stolen vehicles in the past few years.
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