2023-06-08 04:03:46
New York City authorities are suing two major car makers amid complaints that car thefts are on the rise in the United States by mimicking TikTok videos and taking challenges. Hyundai and Kia have been sued by New York City authorities for making cars that are easy to steal.
New York City officials also accused automakers of causing a hardship to the public by making and selling vehicles that were easy to steal. New York City officials argue that automakers did not install anti-theft devices called immobilizers on most of their cars between 2011 and 2022, making it easier for thieves to steal cars.
The content of the petition, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, is that by not including engine immobilizers as a standard safety feature in the cars, it is a flagrant violation of industry standards, prioritizing financial gain over safety and creating a public nuisance. New York City officials in the case added that it is “serious” that when car manufacturers decide not to include standard anti-theft technology in their cars, they don’t think regarding what happens to public safety.
Series of car thefts
The goal of New York City officials is to educate and warn both companies regarding their responsibility through this case. The number of stolen Hyundais and Kias has doubled in the past year. In the first four months of 2023, 977 thefts were reported. It was only 148 during the same period last year. Compared to the same months in 2022, there has been a 660% increase in the theft of Kia and Hyundai vehicles.
Hyundai is the parent company of Kia. However, the two companies operate separately. Last year, the thefts increased following a challenge was raised on Tik Tok. The lack of anti-theft precautions that should be included when the vehicle is built makes cars more likely to be stolen. Thieves are able to steal cars with minimal tools. Thieves take videos of cars being stolen and post them on the ByteDance-owned platform under the hashtag “Kia Boys”. The authorities are taking measures to prevent the increasing number of car thefts by any means.
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