Kia and Hyundai will spend millions fixing old cars to stop ‘Kia Boyz’ thefts

Kia and Hyundai will connection free repairs for millions of cars that deficiency anti-theft exertion arsenic portion of a settlement pinch dozens of US states. The automakers agreed to outfit the astir 9 cardinal eligible cars sold betwixt 2011 and 2022 pinch a zinc sleeve installed astir the ignition cylinder to forestall the viral “Kia Boyz” thefts that required only a USB cable.

The repairs could costs up to $500 million, successful summation to respective cardinal successful restitution to Hyundai and Kia owners whose cars were damaged by thieves, the Associated Press reports. The automakers person besides promised that each of their early cars will person an motor immobilizer, a portion of exertion that prevents would-be thieves from bypassing the ignition.

The deficiency of an immobilizer, a comparatively modular portion of tech successful different cars, is why theft of Kia and Hyundai cars became truthful popular. Videos explaining how to bargain Kia and Hyundai cars pinch a USB cablegram jammed into the ignition cylinder flooded societal media platforms, arsenic the alleged “Kia Challenge” led to a spike successful thefts, and moreover fatal crashes.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who launched the 2023 investigation resulting successful the Tuesday settlement, called the business a “crisis” that began “in a boardroom, traveled done the net and ended up successful tragic results erstwhile personification stole those cars.”