The city of Baltimore is suing automakers Kia and Hyundai, claiming their vehicles are too easy to steal and have fueled a “vehicular crime wave” that has burdened the city.
Baltimore joins Seattle, St. Louis and a number of other major US cities that have sued the companies alleging a lack of anti-theft technology in the vehicles has contributed to a surge in stolen cars.
According to the city officials, car thefts are up 95% in Baltimore this year compared to the same time in 2022, with Kias and Hyundais accounting for 41% of all instances.
To date in 2023, a total of 577 vehicles from both car brands have been stolen, putting Baltimore on pace to double those stolen last year.
The city claims that both carmakers failed to install “industry-standard vehicle immobilization technology” which allows the car to be started without a key —” a flaw that has been the subject of numerous TikTok videos demonstrating the ease with which these cars can be stolen,” the Mayor’s office said.
“These cost-cutting measures employed by Hyundai and Kia at the expense of public safety are unacceptable,” Mayor Brandon M. Scott said in a statement. “They have left our residents vulnerable to crime and are significantly burdening our police resources.”
The lawsuit was filed last Thursday in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.
The suit alleges that crime resulting from the lack of security on the vehicles has put residents’ property and lives at risk, and drained city coffers in its attempt to stop it.
“We must demand more from these manufacturers in addressing this increase in vehicle thefts, which put victims and residents in harm’s way,” Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said. “This lawsuit represents a first step in holding these manufacturers accountable and establishing necessary safeguards to improve the quality of life for our residents.”
Kia said in a statement to WBAL that “lawsuits against Kia by municipalities are without merit,” and.
“Kia has been and continues to be willing to work cooperatively with law enforcement agencies in the greater Baltimore area to combat car theft and the role social media has played in encouraging it,” the company said.
Hyundai blamed thieves for spreading the “how to” info on stealing vehicles on social media, and made no mention of the lawsuits.
