Dem City blames automakers for stolen car crisis in major lawsuit.
The City of Chicago Blames Kia and Hyundai for Car Theft Crisis
The city of Chicago is currently facing a major car theft crisis, and it has identified two South Korean automakers, Kia and Hyundai, as the culprits behind the problem. According to the Chicago Tribune, the city has filed a lawsuit against these automakers, alleging that their vehicles are designed in a way that makes them vulnerable to theft.
In its legal filings, the city argues that hot-wiring vehicles is not as easy as it seems, unless the vehicle was manufactured by Hyundai or Kia. The city claims that car thefts have increased by a shocking 139 percent in just three years in Chicago, with law enforcement only able to solve 4 percent of these cases, according to WTTW.
The lawsuit accuses Hyundai and Kia of creating a “public nuisance” and seeks damages in the form of fines for each theft. Mayor Brandon Johnson also blames these automakers for the car theft epidemic in Chicago.
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“The failure of Kia and Hyundai to install basic auto-theft prevention technology in these models is sheer negligence, and as a result, a citywide and nationwide crime spree around automobile theft has been unfolding right before our eyes,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson in a statement provided to the Chicago Tribune.
Today, the City filed a civil lawsuit against Kia America, Inc., Kia Corporation, Hyundai Motor America, and Hyundai Motor Company for their failure to include industry-standard engine immobilizers in models of their vehicles.
Read the full release here: https://t.co/xl2S9ApnaX
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) August 24, 2023
There is evidence to suggest that these cars are indeed vulnerable to theft. The key-less ignition systems in Kia and Hyundai vehicles have enabled a spree of thefts in major American cities, with some criminals able to activate the vehicles using just a screwdriver and a USB drive. In response, the city of Baltimore is offering free wheel locks to owners of these vehicles to prevent further thefts.
As a part of our ongoing efforts to address the recent auto theft incidents involving Hyundai and Kia vehicles, we are providing residents with wheel locks as a preventive measure. pic.twitter.com/SgagAQ9AQu
— Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) August 25, 2023
Unlike other cars with key-less starters, Kia and Hyundai vehicles do not require a smart chip linked to a specific vehicle to start the ignition. Thefts of these vehicles increased significantly after a viral social media video exposed this security flaw in May 2022, as reported by WMAQ-TV.
Kia and Hyundai’s attorneys have already reached a tentative $200 million settlement in a class action lawsuit filed by owners of these cars. The lawsuit filed by the city of Chicago adds to the legal troubles faced by these automakers.
The post Crime-Ridden Dem City Blames Automakers for Stolen Car Crisis in Major Lawsuit appeared first on The Western Journal.
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