New York sues Hyundai and Kia for viral theft on social media

Last month Hyundai paid 200 million dollars closing a class action born after the distribution of various videos that went viral on TikTok, YouTube and similar “challenges” showing how to steal cars of this brand.

Out of a total of 200 million, 145 million was set aside to cover direct losses caused by customers whose car was stolen or damaged, without insurance, other amounts to cover deductions and other legal costs.

However, the story did not end here: the city of New York has announced that it intends to sue Hyundai and Kia for negligence. In videos that have gone viral, he is shown how to start cars using USB cables and a screwdriver.

Most cars of two brands manufactured between 2015 and 2019 do not have an electronic immobilizer that reads the signal from the physical key and prevents the engine from starting.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, June 6 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, says Hyundai Motor America and Kia America have not reached out to other automakers for not integrating a silencer that would prevent unauthorized (keyless) starting of vehicles.

“Hyundai and Kia’s business decisions to cut costs and increase profits, with the aforementioned anti-theft technology, have led to a theft epidemic,” the quote reads, highlighting the increased resources that have had to be handed over to police departments. , but also a negative impact on public safety and rescue services.

New York City reports that 287 Kias were stolen last year, up from 119 the year before. There were 415 stolen Hyundais last year compared to 232 in 2021. The problem doesn’t seem to be abating, he writes AP newsand it is estimated that since the beginning of the year, stolen Kia and Hyundai have reached 977 in the first 4 months of the year alone.

New York is one of the most populous cities in the world, but similar robberies have also occurred in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego and Seattle. The city is seeking damages to cover economic loss and related injunctive relief.

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