The car manufacturers Hyundai and Kia have agreed to pay over $200 million to car owners whose vehicles have been stolen due to a viral TikTok video that inspired the stealing of Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
But why are Hyundai and Kia taking the fall for this car theft situation? Well, the reason is that Hyundai and Kia’s vehicles lack a crucial anti-theft device that prevents thieves from stealing these cars.
From the viral TikTok video, people were taught how to bypass security on Hyundai and Kia cars by using tools like USB cables. With this TikTok challenge, many car owners have lost their cars to car theft.
Reports note that the theft was easy to pull off because Hyundai and Kia’s vehicles manufactured between 2015 and 2019 lack electronic immobilizers that prevent thieves from simply breaking and bypassing the ignition.
Now, Hyundai and Kia will be paying over $200 million to over 9 million vehicle owners whose vehicles lack push-button ignitions and anti-theft immobilizers.
How does this apply to Hyundai and Kia owners in Nigeria? Obviously, the settlement won’t get to 2015 to 2019 Hyundai and Kia owners in Nigeria. However, this is a wake-up call for Hyundai and Kia owners in Nigeria to check if their vehicle comes with the anti-theft immobilizer quickly. If not, act fast and install one.
