Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Business

Connecticut announces investigation into social media-linked thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles

Connecticut’s attorney general has announced an investigation into Hyundai and Kia concerning the companies’ failure to equip millions of their vehicles with modern anti-theft technology.

In a press release Tuesday, Attorney General William Tong accused the Korean automakers of ignoring repeated calls to install the hardware, known as an engine immobilizer. The technology can prevent vehicles from being hot-wired and stolen.

In recent viral social media posts, individuals can be seen quickly starting the cars using a USB cable.

“We have called on Hyundai and Kia over and over again to make this right and address the glaring public safety vulnerabilities in their vehicles,’ Tong said. ‘Whatever they have done to date is clearly not working. We’ve got viral videos all over the internet teaching kids how to hot-wire these cars in a matter of seconds and glorifying reckless driving that has resulted in injuries and multiple deaths nationwide.’

Tong goes on to call the vehicles ‘sitting ducks’ and notes many major insurers are now refusing to cover them.

‘I’ve launched this investigation to force Hyundai and Kia to disclose every discussion and decision leading up to the sale of these theft-prone cars, as well as the costs and analysis of potential fixes,’ Tong said.

Representatives for Hyundai, which owns Kia, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The action follows a $200 million class-action settlement the automakers reached last month that was designed to cover approximately 9 million U.S. owners. The settlement includes up to $145 million for out-of-pocket losses for consumers who had cars stolen, as well as offers to upgrade vehicles without anti-theft immobilizers.

Earlier this month, New York City sued the automakers on similar grounds to Connecticut’s. In April, attorneys general of 17 states and the District of Columbia called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a nationwide recall of the vehicles.

A NHTSA spokesperson declined to comment. In February, the agency announced the carmakers had developed theft-deterrent software for vehicles lacking immobilizers and would provide it free of charge to vehicle owners. 

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

    You May Also Like

    Politics

    When George Santos mentioned his family during his congressional campaign, the New York Republican often reflected on the work ethic and strength of his...

    Business

    Two of Sam Bankman-Fried’s top business partners — a co-founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX and the former CEO of the hedge fund Alameda...

    Sports

    Kicker Alejandro Mata is following former Tigers coach Deion Sanders to Colorado. ‘Thankful to be committed and signed to the University of Colorado,’ Marta wrote on...

    Stocks

    SPX Monitoring Purposes: Sold long SPX 1/27/23 at 4070.56 = Gain 6.51%; Long on 12/20/22 at 3821.62. The top window is the cumulative GDX...

    Disclaimer: SecretCharts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 SecretCharts.com | All Rights Reserved