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In recent years the leading Korean carmakers Hyundai and Kia received excessive criticism due to the integration of poor anti-theft measures available in their products. This drawback made their vehicles vulnerable to theft. As an impact of this, both carmakers were placed at the top rank in the list of the most stolen cars in the U.S. in 2021 and 2023. The main reason behind the increasing cases of burglary was the absence of immobilizers in certain models. Due to this, these cars became easy targets for car thieves and fueled trends like the notorious ‘Kia Boys’ movement. However, before the situation worsened, both South Korean automakers took decisive steps to enhance their vehicle security. As a result, car thefts in the country have seen a dynamic yearly decline in four decades.

 

 

Dramatic Decline in Hyundai and Kia Car Thefts:  According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), Hyundai and Kia models were among the top five most stolen vehicles last year. However, with the introduction of advanced security measures, there was a decline of approximately 37.5% in the number of car thefts compared to previous years. The percentage of vehicle thefts across the U.S. came down to 16.6% in 2024, with 850,708 stolen vehicles as compared to 1.02 million stolen vehicles recorded in 2023.

 

A report published by Reuters suggests that apart from the new anti-theft measures introduced by Hyundai and Kia, simplification of issues related to supply has also made car theft less appealing. With readily available auto parts and new vehicles, the incentive for stealing vehicles to strip them for components has declined in the market. 

Steps Adopted By Hyundai and Kia’s To Control Vehicle Theft

 

To control the incidence of theft in certain entry-level models that lacked immobilizers, Hyundai introduced a series of measures, including:

 

As a result of these efforts, Hyundai has reported that 68% of affected vehicles have already received the anti-theft update.

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the practice of carjackings increased due to disturbance in the supply chain, this increased the prices of vehicles and their components. However, as the auto industry stabilizes and supply chains recover, the practice of vehicle stripping has decreased.

 

Conclusion: The drop in Hyundai and Kia car thefts highlights the effectiveness of cutting-edge proactive security measures and improvements in the automotive industry’s supply chain. While theft vulnerabilities in older models created challenges, the steps adopted by automakers have proven effective in controlling the incidents of theft. This also increases the trust of potential buyers of Hyundai and Kia cars.