In response to a national crime wave fueled by social media, Hyundai wants to accelerate the release of a software patch to secure its vehicles from being targeted by thieves.
This week, the manufacturer is setting up a mobile service facility in Washington, D.C., for owners of the impacted vehicles who live up to 25 miles from Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, where the event will occur.
Ira Gabriel, a spokesman for the company, claims that 37,000 Hyundai owners received an email informing them about the opportunity.
The service facility will occupy two of the stadium’s parking lots. Additionally, on-site technicians will upgrade, install and finish the software upgrade. Hyundai also expects the entire process to take around an hour.
Gabriel stated that the clinic is the first in what may be a series of affairs and is in response to its dealer network being flooded with requests for software updates.
Hyundai stated that the clinic is “Intended to complement Hyundai’s nationwide network of dealerships and drive further installations of Hyundai’s free anti-theft software upgrade for customers who continue to be affected by the thefts.”
The upgrades are part of a campaign launched by Hyundai and Kia in February to safeguard 7 million of their cars from the 2011 to 2022 model years that are vulnerable to hotwiring because they lack engine immobilizers. This theft-prevention technology prevents a car from starting without the key in the ignition.
The patch covers the majority of the impacted vehicles. However, roughly 700,000 Hyundai and 1.3 million Kia vehicles are not eligible for the software update because they are missing an internal alarm system, which the upgrade improves.
Ultimately, the company has given vehicle owners complimentary steering wheel locks to reduce exposure to the issues. However, several secondary parties are still issuing lawsuits for the company, which includes 68 insurance companies claiming the easily stolen vehicles are costing them millions of dollars.
