AUTONEWS

Hyundai Kia group has managed to correct a serious security flaw that allowed its vehicles to be stolen

Have you heard of the “Kia Boyz”? This is one of the most surreal episodes in the United States Public Safety in recent decades. The case gained national repercussion and shook two of the largest car manufacturers in the world.

The crisis began during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some masked individuals began posting videos on TikTok teaching how to steal Kia and Hyundai vehicles, such as the Soul and Elantra.

And these were not ordinary thefts. They ended up becoming famous for two reasons: the bandits were all teenagers and the thefts were very simple – sometimes, the criminals used only a USB cable to bypass the cars' security.

This happened because many Hyundai and Kia models manufactured between 2015-2019 do not have so-called electronic immobilizers.

These are tools that prevent potential thieves from simply breaking in and bypassing the ignition. The feature is standard equipment in almost all vehicles from the same period made by other manufacturers. But not from these two brands.

The result was hundreds of thefts in the country and a US$200 million settlement that the automakers had to sign with customers.

In parallel to this, the companies issued a recall to update the anti-theft software. And, according to the most recent data, the initiative was successful.

The number of incidents has dropped significantly: Information from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) shows that the software update has reduced theft rates by more than half.

The automakers began implementing the update in February 2023 and say that more than 60% of eligible vehicles have sought the fix.

HLDI reports that theft calls related to these vehicles have dropped by 64%.

The update aimed to extend the duration of the alarm sound from 30 seconds to one minute and require a key in the ignition to start the vehicle.

In the videos, the person removed the plastic cover that surrounds the steering column and, with the help of the USB cable, made some calls, starting the car.

With the update, the car will not start without the correct key in the ignition.

There's still a long way to go... Despite the drop in incidents, the same institute states that theft rates remain high compared to other brands.

In addition, the police still register a high number of vandalism calls related to Kia and Hyundai.

They explain that criminals continue to try to commit theft, but when they realize that the car no longer starts, they simply vandalize the vehicle. Out of anger, really.

This is the price that the two automakers will have to pay for a long time. The fame will continue to exist – and social networks are there to prolong the effect. In the meantime, the trend is that both Kia and Hyundai will experience a drop in sales in the country.

Mundoquatrorodas