"Under the nationwide settlement, the companies will offer a free repair to all eligible vehicles at a cost that could top $500 million, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said. Hyundai and Kia must also outfit all future vehicles sold in the U.S. with a key piece of technology called an engine immobilizer and pay up to $4.5 million of restitution to people whose vehicles were damaged by thieves."
"Thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles soared in part because beginning in 2021, videos posted to TikTok and other social media demonstrated how someone could steal a car with just a screwdriver and a USB cable. Minneapolis reported an 836% increase in Hyundai and Kia thefts from 2021 to 2022. Ellison announced an investigation into the automakers in early 2023."
Hyundai and Kia will provide free repairs for eligible models nationwide and must equip future U.S. vehicles with engine immobilizers under a multistate settlement addressing inadequate anti-theft protections. The settlement covers about 9 million vehicles from 2011 through 2022, could cost more than $500 million for repairs, and includes up to $4.5 million in restitution for people with theft-related vehicle damage. The agreement was reached by 35 states. Thefts surged after 2021 social media videos demonstrated easy theft methods, with some jurisdictions reporting increases exceeding 800 percent and resulting in crimes, crashes, injuries and deaths. An investigation began in early 2023.
Read at www.twincities.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]