Hyundai strikes back at TikTok thieves
Korean car-maker makes moves to curtail social media-fueled spike in car thefts overseasA dangerous social media trend encouraging vandals to target Kia and Hyundai vehicles is continuing to grip the US, where the South Korean car-maker has now been forced to take matters into its own hands.
In a craze that originated on social media platform TikTok, where a user posted a video showing how to ‘hotwire’ a Kia by inserting a USB into a hidden port. The ‘Kia challenge’ has reportedly resulted in a legal nightmare for the Hyundai Motor Group, the parent company of both Hyundai and Kia.
According to Automotive News, 15 class action law suits have been filed in 14 states across the US, seeking compensation and demanding a nationwide recall.
However, Hyundai is attempting to mitigate the issue in the meantime, by offering North American owners an aftermarket $US170 ‘Compustar anti-theft security kit’ that requires professional installation by a Hyundai technician at additional cost.
The installation is said to take around 2.5 hours, while fitment will vary in price depending on the location of the dealership.
Meanwhile, Hyundai is reportedly working on a software update – tipped to be ready by the third quarter of 2023 – to further protect its vulnerable vehicles, which include cars built as far back as 2011 but only those fitted with an old-school key ignition barrel. Higher-spec vehicles with push-button start are not affected.
There have been no reported thefts relating to the social media trend in Australia, where the fitment of an engine immobiliser on new cars has been compulsory since 2001.
European countries including the UK and Germany made the security measure compulsory back in the 1990s, followed by Canada in 2007, however, an immobiliser is still not a legal requirement for new cars sold in the US.
Related: TikTok vandals target Kia models
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