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The city of Chicago is suing two major automakers amid a growing auto theft crisis.
Chicago’s Democratic Mayor’s Office, Brandon Johnson, announced that the city has filed lawsuits against automakers Kia and Hyundai, alleging that both companies failed to incorporate “industry-standard immobilizers” into several vehicle models, resulting in a “steep rise” in crime.
“The impact of auto theft on Chicago residents can be profoundly destabilizing, particularly for low- to middle-income workers who have fewer opportunities to get to work and care for their families,” Johnson said. “The failure of Kia and Hyundai to incorporate basic theft-car prevention technology into these models is sheer negligence, and as a result, a city- and nationwide auto-theft crime wave is unfolding right before our eyes.”
The lawsuit specifically alleges that both companies failed to equip their US cars sold between 2011 and 2022 with “vital anti-theft technology.” Both companies “falsely assured consumers that these vehicles had ‘enhanced’ safety features despite their knowledge of these critical features.”
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Chicago’s Democratic Mayor’s Office, Brandon Johnson, announced that the city has filed lawsuits against automakers Kia and Hyundai, alleging that both companies failed to incorporate “industry-standard retractable immobilizers” into several vehicle models… (iStock / iStock)
Johnson’s office said thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles rose from nearly 500 in the first half of 2022 to more than 3,350 in the second half of 2022 after social media videos revealed the “defect”.
In 2023, thefts from Kia and Hyundai cars accounted for more than half of all 2023 auto thefts in Chicago.
“Because these vehicles are entry-level, the failure of Kia and Hyundai to include immobilizers disproportionately affects low-income Chicagoans. Additionally, criminals have used stolen Kia and Hyundai vehicles for other crimes, including reckless driving, armed robbery and murder,” Johnson’s office said.
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Photo of the Kia sign at the Seoul headquarters Portal/You Sung-Ho KKH/SA (Portal/You Sung-Ho KKH/SA / Portal photos)
In a statement to FOX Business, a Hyundai spokesman said immobilizers will be standard in all vehicles manufactured by the company as of November 2021.
“Hyundai is committed to the comprehensive actions we are taking to help customers and communities affected by persistent theft of certain vehicles not equipped with push-button ignition and immobilizer. Our dealers across the country are maximizing the number of anti-theft software installations.” “This can be done daily and contributes to steadily increasing completion rates that we report to NHTSA weekly,” the spokesman said.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson during a dedication ceremony at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago on May 15, 2023. (Jamie Kelter Davis/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
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FOX Business has reached out to Kia for comment