Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

CTOnews.com, June 8 (Xinhua)-- New York City this week filed a lawsuit against South Korean carmakers Kia and Hyundai, saying some of their models were too easy to steal, causing problems, including potential public casualties.

The lawsuit alleges that Kia and Hyundai failed to keep pace with other automakers and did not use anti-theft starter technology, which ensures that vehicles can only be started with keys.

According to the 39-page complaint filed on Tuesday, some models sold by Hyundai and Kia in the United States do not have engine anti-theft devices, which have been standard for most cars since the 1990s. the complaint alleges that Hyundai and Kia abandoned common anti-theft technologies in order to reduce costs and increase profits, leading to frequent vehicle theft.

New York City sued for negligence and public nuisance, claiming that frequent car thefts hindered public safety, consumed police resources and adversely affected other emergency public services.

Some videos on websites such as TikTok show that the vehicles can be started only with screwdrivers and USB rechargeable cables.

"in the 1960s and 1970s, all it took to successfully steal a car was a little brute force, open the ignition pillar, start the car with an object similar to a key, and drive away in a matter of seconds," the complaint said. This is no longer the case for most cars because of the anti-theft starter. Between 2011 and 2022, Hyundai and Kia were almost the only automakers that did not install these devices in most cars. "

The complaint also contains photos of stolen cars, including one from the Milwaukee incident in June 2021, when a 16-year-old was killed in a collision with another car after being suspected of stealing a Kia Sportage. Two of his 12-year-old accomplices were also seriously injured, as were three passengers in the car he hit. A similar tragedy occurred in Walatosa, Wisconsin, when a woman was killed at the scene when she tried to stop a Hyundai from being stolen.

The complaint alleges that car theft and reckless driving also pose a risk of physical injury to pedestrians. On February 8, 2023, a Hyundai car stolen in Baltimore hit another car and a 54-year-old pedestrian during a high-speed chase. Both cars rushed into a nearby building, which collapsed on vehicles and pedestrians, killing pedestrians on the spot and injuring five people in the two cars.

According to the New York Police Department, nearly 290 Kia cars were stolen in New York City last year and about 119 in 2021. About 415 Hyundai cars were stolen in 2022 and 232 in 2021. From January to April this year, nearly 1000 Hyundai and Kia cars were stolen. In the same period last year, there were only 148 thefts.

CTOnews.com noted that not only New York, but also Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego and Seattle have sued Hyundai and Kia.

The lawsuit comes a month after Kia and Hyundai settled a $200m class action related to car theft prevalent in some US cities. The two companies said in a statement that they will provide cash compensation to customers who have suffered losses or damage to vehicles not covered by insurance. In addition, insurance deductibles, increased insurance premiums and other theft-related losses will be reimbursed.

The lawsuit calls for a jury trial, as well as the elimination of public nuisances caused or facilitated by modern and Kia, and compensation for economic losses suffered as a result of the nuisances.

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