Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia agreed on Tuesday to retrofit more than 4 million U.S. vehicles to address theft concerns and install prevention equipment on all new vehicles to resolve an investigation by a bipartisan coalition of 35 attorneys general.
The state attorneys general said the automakers will offer free zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors to owners of eligible vehicles, including vehicles previously only eligible for the companies’ software updates. They also agreed to equip all future U.S. vehicles with engine immobilizer anti-theft technology to help curb car thefts using a method popularized on TikTok and