This was the third time the woman said her Kia was stolen from outside her home since 2019.

MILWAUKEE (CNN) - A woman in Milwaukee says her Kia has been stolen three times, even after she installed a free security upgrade meant to prevent this crime from happening.

    • yamanii@lemmy.world
      221·
      9 months ago

      It is their responsibility to not make a security system so bad that teens with a USB drive can steal the car.

        • edric@lemm.ee
          131·
          9 months ago

          The thing is, the exact same models sold in Canada have immobilizers installed in them as standard. And it costs just a couple of bucks per car for them to do that. I guess your point is kinda valid in the sense that because they weren’t required by law to do it in the US, they didn’t. While they didn’t break any laws, it’s still a dumb thing to do to penny pinch. All their 2023 models and up now have immobilizers on them with prices still within their class range, so it’s not like they couldn’t do it.

          Also, they aren’t exactly bottom of the barrel anymore nowadays and their cars are sold at a premium.

            • edric@lemm.ee
              101·
              9 months ago

              You can buy an aftermarket immobilizer for $30 on amazon. A car manufacturer can probably get them for cheaper in bulk.

    • Snapz@lemmy.world
      161·
      9 months ago

      Helen, why were immobilizers standard in just about every other manufacturer’s vehicles? Some things are not the burden of the consumer - you should not need to be an expert in your doctors provided care or in the additives in your toothpaste. Do you know why? because even if you arrogantly thought you had a grasp on it, you’d likely be doing a shit job, because you’re not a doctor or a chemical engineer. The government should have regulated this as a standard need, but short of that, this is was much of a standard as you can have (especially in Europe).

      It’s a great example though of how enough companies to make an impact WILL NOT do the right thing unless it is mandated. Hyundai was the test balloon and if they got away with it, others would have followed. Only good news arid this is that the PR shit show Hyundai bought for themselves will scare off other manufacturer’s from shedding those $1.24 worth of parts from their BOM for another few years at least.

        • skulblaka@startrek.website
          9·
          9 months ago

          Immobilisers have been mandatory in all new cars sold in Germany since 1 January 1998, in the United Kingdom since 1 October 1998, in Finland since 1998, in Australia since 2001 and in Canada since 2007.

          Unfortunately in the good old US of A that is somehow not the case, but it remains a fact that it is a bare minimum requirement for vehicle security. You will not purchase a vehicle in America that is not a Kia that does not have an immobilizer.

            • skulblaka@startrek.website
              121·
              9 months ago

              The fact that they are, factually, standard on every other manufacturer’s vehicles, like you want to insist they aren’t. You’re clearly refusing to understand the words being communicated to you so, good luck in life I guess, this conversation is done.

    • geekworking@lemmy.world
      1·
      9 months ago

      You can buy an add-on immobilizer on Amazon or eBay for $20. The cost to a car company to build this into the computer in the factory should be under $10. Virtually every other car company has used them by default in everything since the mid 1990s.