Hyundai and Kia’s new anti-theft software is working, with fewer of their vehicles being stolen.
The companies started offering these updates in February 2023 after a big rise in thefts, partly caused by social media showing how to steal these cars.
Insurance claims for stolen cars with the new software are down 64% compared to those without.
The software targets older Hyundai and Kia models that are easier to steal due to their design and lack of certain anti-theft features.
So far, over 2 million cars have received the update.
However, only about 30% of eligible cars had the software installed by the end of 2023, although this number has since increased to around 61%.
For cars that can’t get the software, the companies are providing steering wheel locks.
Even with the update, these older models are still stolen more often than other cars, possibly because owners might not be using the new software correctly.
The problem was also partly driven by a social media trend where people were stealing these cars just for fun.
