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The
most populous U.S. city joined several other major cities that
have sued Hyundai and Kia over the thefts, including Baltimore,
Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego and Seattle.
In a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, New York
faulted the automakers' failure from 2011 to 2022 to install
anti-theft devices called immobilizers on most of their cars,
making them "nearly unique" among automobile manufacturers.
New York said this has "opened the floodgates to vehicle theft,
crime sprees, reckless driving, and public harm," exacerbated by
TikTok videos showing how to steal cars that lack push-button
ignitions and immobilizers.
The city said the number of reported stolen Hyundais and Kias
doubled last year, followed by a "virtual explosion of thefts"
in the first four months of 2023 with 977 reported thefts, up
from 148 in the same period in 2022.
In contrast, the city said thefts of BMW, Ford, Honda, Mercedes,
Nissan and Toyota vehicles have fallen this year.
The complaint seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive
damages.
Hyundai said in a statement that it made immobilizers standard
on all vehicles in November 2021, and has taken steps including
a software upgrade to reduce the threat of thefts.
Kia in a statement also cited its anti-theft efforts, and said
it is working with New York City law enforcement to combat car
thefts. It also called the city's lawsuit "without merit."
In February, Hyundai and Kia said they would offer software
upgrades for as many as 8.3 million U.S. vehicles that lack the
immobilizers.
Last month, Hyundai and Kia reached a $200 million settlement of
a consumer class action over the thefts.
That case covered about 9 million U.S. vehicle owners, and
included as much as $145 million to cover losses for stolen
vehicles, lawyers for the owners said.
The case is City of New York v Hyundai Motor America et al, U.S.
District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 23-04772.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Chris
Reese and Jamie Freed)
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