South Korean automakers Kia and Hyundai are offering a new free software patch to owners of 8.3 million vehicles with improved security features, making them very hard to steal.
This software update is specifically for vehicles that lack immobilizer and will be provided to the owners free of charge. The vehicles in question are the 2015-2019 Hyundai and Kia models with turn-key ignitions which are twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of similar age. The reason is that many of these vehicles lack some of the basic auto theft prevention technology included in most other vehicles.
The software updates the theft alarm software logic to extend the length of the alarm sound from 30 seconds to one minute which requires the key to be in the ignition switch to turn the vehicle on.
Hyundai will provide its users with a window sticker that would alert thieves that the vehicle is equipped with anti-theft protection. The automaker will send the stickers and roll out software updates in a phased approach, which will commence later this month with subsequent phases over the coming months.
Also, Kia will roll out its free software updates in a phased approach which will begin later this month. Reports reveal that both automakers have been in touch with law enforcement agencies to provide more than 26,000 steering wheel locks since November to 77 law enforcement agencies in 12 states.
Investors King understands that auto theft rose during the pandemic which saw Kia and Hyundai the most affected among other brands, due to their vulnerabilities. These models also became the subject of a social media trend in which thieves filmed themselves stealing Hyundai and Kia vehicles and took them on joyrides.
The surge in car theft became worrisome and pronounced that city governments and car owners filed lawsuits against the automakers over the issue.
With the latest software being rolled out by these automakers, it will protect the car from coming on after the doors have been locked using the fob control. This implies that the vehicle will need to be unlocked before it can be put on.
