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A federal lawsuit accuses automakers Kia and Hyundai of failing to install industry-standard anti-theft technology, resulting in thousands of thefts of vehicles in St. Louis

By

JIM SALTER Associated Press

March 27, 2023, 3:55 PM ET

3 min read

ST. LOUIS -- A federal lawsuit filed Monday by the city of St. Louis accuses automakers Kia and Hyundai of failing to install industry-standard anti-theft technology, resulting in thousands of vehicle thefts in the Missouri city.

The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $75,000 plus punitive damages. St. Louis joins several other cities that have filed similar lawsuits, including Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego, Columbus, Ohio, and Seattle.

Kias and Hyundais have been targeted since a TikTok social media challenge put a spotlight on the vehicles lack of an immobilizer, showing viewers how to hot-wire cars with a USB cord and a screwdriver. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the thefts have resulted in at least 14 crashes and eight fatalities across the U.S.

"Defendants careless disregard for the safety of the public has created a public nuisance in the City of St. Louis, resulting in an explosion of auto-related crime that is injuring citizens, taxing St. Louiss resources, and jeopardizing the public health, safety, and peace of all who live, work, and visit St. Louis," the lawsuit states.

Kia said in a statement that the lawsuits by St. Louis and other cities are without merit.

Kia has been and continues to be willing to work cooperatively with law enforcement agencies in St. Louis to combat car theft and the role social media has played in encouraging it, the company said.

Hyundai Motor America is committed to ensuring the quality and integrity of our products, the company said in a statement.

St. Louis police have received more than 4,500 reports of thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles over the past 10 months, and three-fifths of all vehicle thefts in that span have involved Kias or Hyundais, the city said.

The lawsuit cited several incidents involving stolen Kias and Hyundais. In August, occupants of a stolen Kia Optima and a stolen Hyundai Sonata were involved in a shootout near downtown in which a 17-year-old was shot. In September, a bicyclist was struck and killed by a speeding Kia that had been stolen.

Last month, both automakers rolled out software updates aimed at stemming the raft of thefts. The updates are free for millions of vehicles that are missing a key anti-theft device. The software updates the theft alarm software logic to extend the length of the alarm sound from 30 seconds to one minute and requires the key to be in the ignition switch to turn the vehicle on.

About 3.8 million Hyundais and 4.5 million Kias are eligible for the software update, the NHTSA said.

In addition to the software update, Kia said it is shipping more than 27,000 free steering wheel locks to over 140 law enforcement agencies, including nearly 1,500 to police in the St. Louis area, and we will continue to provide additional free locks as needed.

Hyundai said engine immobilizers became standard on all vehicles in November 2021. The company said it also provides free steering wheel locks to law enforcement agencies to distribute to those who own or lease affected models, and reimburses customers who bought steering wheel locks.

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St. Louis sues Kia, Hyundai over rash of car thefts - ABC News

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Do you own a Kia or Hyundai between the years 2011-2021?

If so, we may have a steering wheel lock for you to prevent motor vehicle theft!

Please read below:

Lower Moreland Police Department, in conjunction with Kia and Hyundai Motor Companies, will be distributingFREE steering wheel locks for Hyundai/Kia vehicle owners; with a vehiclebetween the years of 2011 - 2021.If your vehicle has a key fob and/or push-to-start feature, then your vehicle does not apply for this handout.

To pick up your free steering wheel lock, please visit Lower Moreland Police Department at 640 Red Lion Rd, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006.You must present your current vehicle registration and valid state issued ID to prove you are a Lower Moreland resident.

ONEwheel lock per vehicle. This will be a first come first served basis.

Heres some information directly from Hyundai Motors:

Background:

Certain MY Hyundai vehicles are reportedly being stolen at a higher rate than other vehicles due to a coordinated effort on social media. Criminals are targeting Hyundai vehicles without engine immobilizers.There is no quality issue or defect with these vehicles, and they all meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. On certain vehicles, this technology did not come standard.

Hyundai made engine immobilizers standard in all-new Hyundai vehicles at every trim level produced after November 1, 2021. Hyundai has announced three forms of assistance for customers with certain earlier model year vehicles without an immobilizer that thieves most target.

Media Statement (Updated 2/14/2023):

Hyundai Motor America has introduced a free anti-theft software upgrade to prevent the vehicles from starting during a method of theft popularized on TikTok and other social media channels. The software upgrade will modify certain vehicle control modules on Hyundai vehicles equipped with standard turn-key-to-start ignition systems. As a result, locking the doors with the key fob will set the factory alarm and activate an ignition kill feature so the vehicles cannot be started when subjected to the popularized theft mode.

This software upgrade launched as a service campaign for almost 4 million vehicles with the upgrade rolling out first to more than 1 million model year 2017-2020 Elantra, 2015-2019 Sonata and 2020-2021 Venue vehicles. The software upgrade is scheduled to be available for the remaining eligible affected vehicles by June 2023. Hyundai is notifying customers about the anti-theft service campaign through multiple points of contact (e.g., mail, email, outbound phone contact and a dedicated website) with instructions to bring their vehicle to the nearest Hyundai dealership to have the free software installed.

More information is available at http://www.hyundaiantitheft.com, where customers can input their vehicles Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to find out when it is eligible for the software upgrade.

Ways to stay updated on Hyundai Vehicles:

Excerpt from:
FREE WHEEL LOCKS FOR LOWER MORELAND RESIDENTS ... - Montgomery County

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Progress launches free online training for application developers - IT Brief Australia

Sterlite Technologies Limited, with reference to the company's earlier disclosure dated January 31, 2023 it was inter alia intimated that the company had entered into a business transfer agreement to sell its Telecom Products and Software business (TP&S) to Skyvera LLC through its Indian subsidiary.

The company stated in an exchange filing that the transfer is by way of slump sale as a going concern basis.

Subsequently, on account of certain revised commercial understanding amongst the parties, it has been agreed to implement the transfer of the TP&S business as an asset sale.

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Accordingly, STL has signed an amended and restated agreement dated March 27, 2023 with Skyvera LLC and its Indian subsidiary in relation to transfer of the assets (Amended and Restated Agreement).

It is clarified that the aggregate consideration being received by STL under the revised transaction structure remains the same.

(To receive our E-paper on WhatsApp daily, please click here.To receive it on Telegram, please click here. We permit sharing of the paper's PDF on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.)

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STL enters into transfer agreement to sell its Telecom Products and Software business to Skyvera - Free Press Journal