Hyundai and Kia have been by the wringer for his or her automobiles’ lack of immobilizers, which has allowed rampant thefts of some older fashions. Insurance coverage corporations have refused to cowl the automobiles, and there have been a number of third-party options promising safety, however the actuality is that there are nonetheless loads of theft-ready Korean vehicles on America’s streets. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has an answer he hopes will spur motion in his metropolis, and it includes a lawsuit.
Chicago has sued Kia and Hyundai over what it mentioned was a failure to incorporate very important immobilizer applied sciences in automobiles. The town famous that the failure triggered a “steep rise in automobile thefts, reckless driving, property harm, and a wide selection of associated violent crimes in Chicago.” Whereas all new Hyundais now get the tech, any older fashions lacking immobilizers might be stolen in virtually no time by thieves skilled with the method.
Whereas Chicago’s crime charge has turn out to be insanely politicized in recent times, there’s no denying that town has some alarming statistics. Thus far this 12 months, greater than 19,000 automobiles have been stolen there, which, as Automotive Information factors out, is twice the quantity seen in all of 2021 and 3 times the speed in 2019. A whopping 8,350 Hyundai and Kia automobiles have been stolen within the metropolis in the course of the second half of final 12 months, up from 500 within the first half.
Although Chicago was the primary main American metropolis to carry authorized motion in opposition to the Korean automakers, it’s not the one authorities entity to induce the Korean automakers to take motion. Some 20 state attorneys common have pushed the businesses to ship options and bolster their automobile protections. Many have pointed to the thefts as set off factors for extra critical crimes, together with intercourse trafficking and drug gross sales. Earlier this 12 months, the automakers settled a class-action swimsuit over the thefts to the tune of $200 million.
Nonetheless, it takes time to retrofit older fashions with up to date tech or supply a third-party resolution, so we’ve possible not heard the tip of this but. This is some background on the issue and which automobiles are concerned.