Hyundai, pressed by attorneys general and municipal governments across the country to do more to protect owners of its models from theft, has responded with more aggressive steps to do so.
The moves come after scathing criticism and a series of lawsuits over its response to a nationwide rash of thefts of U.S.-sold 2011 to 2022 models without immobilizing antitheft technology as standard equipment.
The South Korean carmaker at first said it was doing everything it could to protect owners of the models in question. But it’s now outlined the additional measures it’s taking.
Sued by some major U.S. cities and urged by about two dozen attorneys general to do more, Hyundai said it will expedite a software upgrade for models without antitheft devices and reimburse owners of models that can’t be upgraded for the purchase of steering wheel locks. It said it also worked out an arrangement with independent AAA insurers to insure theft-vulnerable models in most states.
It said the independent AAA insurers will offer new and renewal policies for eligible customers with affected models. Before, many owners were struggling to secure insurance for the vehicles because of their vulnerability to theft.
Hyundai also said it’s expedited a software upgrade for the models by two months. The upgrade is designed to prevent them from starting via a method popularized in social media videos.
“Our goal is to get every one of these vehicles into a dealership for the free software upgrade,” said Hyundai Motor America CEO Randy Parker.
