New York’s mayor blames automakers for the rise in auto theft

Mayor of New York (New York), L.L democratic Eric Adams introduced that the municipal administration ought to file a lawsuit towards South Korean automakers Kia that it Hyundai claiming that they didn’t have the factory-installed anti-theft know-how of their automobiles. Due to this, the variety of robberies and car thefts has elevated within the metropolis.

In line with a metropolis council assertion, the operation goals to “maintain each corporations accountable for refusing to provide sure fashions of their automobiles with anti-theft instruments.” In New York, simply final 12 months, there was a rise of practically 900% in thefts of Kia automobiles and 760% within the case of Hyundai automobiles.

This measure may be adopted by different cities which have additionally recorded a rise in automobile thefts of each manufacturers. Final 12 months, a sequence of movies circulating on the social community TikTok posed a “problem” of automobile thefts from automakers Kia and Hyundai. The authors of the video confirmed steal these automobiles utilizing a USB cable and a screwdriver.

“We is not going to stand by whereas automakers flip a blind eye to safety and make it simpler for criminals to reap the benefits of residents,” Adams stated.

When requested concerning the anti-theft mechanisms put in within the automobiles, Hyundai instructed NBC in a notice that it’s “dedicated to making sure the standard and security of its merchandise.”

In line with the automaker, so-called immobilizers — or locks — have been commonplace on all automobiles since November 2021 and a free software program replace has been made out there to stop theft. The corporate additionally confirmed that it will refund clients who bought steering wheel locks and that it “continues to supply free steering wheel locks nationwide.”

Kia, for its half, has but to point out itself.