Rising Kia thefts prompt legal action across the country.
Attorneys general from 23 states, including California, have urged Hyundai Motor North America and Kia Motors America to increase the anti-theft security of their vehicles by installing an engine immobilizer. The companies allegedly left their customers vulnerable to theft by failing to install the device, leading to a surge in Kia and Hyundai thefts across the country. A TikTok trend showing how a Kia vehicle could be stolen using only a flathead screwdriver and a USB cord has gone viral, with the thieves coming to be known as “Kia boys.” The trend has resulted in at least 14 crashes and eight deaths across the country.