The number of vehicle thefts remains high, and Kia plans to launch new anti-theft software this month

Kia to launch new anti-theft software this month as vehicle thefts remain high

【PhoneAuto News】Recently, due to vulnerabilities in the anti-theft systems of some Hyundai and Kia models, many affected car owners have encountered theft problems, and related videos have become popular on the internet. Hyundai and Kia had to announce the development of new anti-theft software to stop this behavior from spreading. However, after several months, the related software does not seem to have achieved the expected results, and Kia stated that the software will be further updated.

Kia Motors

According to Automotive News, Kia has informed dealers that the company has discovered compatibility issues with vehicles equipped with remote start function. The initial notification was issued in February, but the latest update last week showed that the problem has not been resolved. Kia told the media that the new software should be launched later this month and be compatible with vehicles equipped with remote start. However, when the car owner uses remote start, it will trigger the vehicle’s alarm.

• BYD Dynasty sold 125,515 vehicles in May, with one-third of them being from the Qin series
• BMW announces recall for these models! There is a risk of power interruption during driving
• Some imported Jeep Wranglers have announced a recall of 852 vehicles! There is a risk of fuel leakage

It is understood that the initial update modified the vehicle’s alarm system and required the key to be inserted into the ignition switch before starting the vehicle. The updated software also extends the alarm time from 30 seconds to 1 minute. The update has been rolled out in stages, but it is a daunting task as it involves millions of vehicles. However, the media reports that this software update seems to have little effect on theft cases. This is because the new update only covers 9% of eligible Hyundai owners, and this figure is only 11% for Kia owners.

Kia Motors

This is also one of the reasons why the theft rate of Hyundai and Kia in the United States is still much higher than the average level. In an article published by the Associated Press last month, it was mentioned that there were 1,899 incidents of theft of Hyundai and Kia in Minneapolis, almost 18 times that of 2022. It also pointed out that the police in some cities indicated that most car theft cases were related to Hyundai and Kia cars.

We will continue to update Phone&Auto; if you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us!