Hyundai And KIA To Supply Free Steering Wheel Locks To Fight Viral TikTok Thefts

The robberies began as a viral TikTok problem the place thieves, predominantly younger boys who select to be distinguished because the “KIA Boys,” have been hotwiring sure KIA and Hyundai automotive fashions utilizing a USB cable. It’s because the plagued fashions lack an important element referred to as an ignition immobilizer, chargeable for reducing off the gasoline provide to the engine in case somebody makes an attempt to begin the automotive with out the precise key.

Because of the viral TikTok development, a number of thieves have joined in to carjack the affected fashions and unfold the phrase additional. Most of those fashions affected by the flaw use mechanical keys and never good key fobs.

By the way, many insurance coverage firms “briefly” stopped providing protection for the affected fashions owing to their lack of anti-theft options. Regardless of warnings from a number of state and metropolis police departments, there isn’t a nationwide tally of the variety of robberies for the reason that development went viral. However in January 2023, Progressive, one of many main insurance coverage firms, informed CNN that these automobiles had been 20 instances extra prone to be stolen. It was one of many firms to restrict the sale of latest insurance policies for the affected automobiles.