Home ›› 21 May 2023 ›› World Biz
Hyundai and Kia on Friday announced a deal to settle a lawsuit filed by car theft victims after a TikTok “challenge” showed how easy it was to steal some models.
The settlement could cost the South Korean car makers as much as $200 million, most of the money going to compensate people for theft-related losses, according to the companies. It is up to a judge whether to approve the deal.
“This agreement is the latest step in a series of important actions that Kia has taken to help customers whose vehicles have been targeted by criminals using methods of theft popularized on social media,” Kia America chief legal officer John Yoon said in a joint release.
Thefts of Kia and Hyundai cars in the United States spiked in the middle of last year after videos spread on TikTok showing how to easily steal some models, according to the companies.
Videos promoted a “Kia Challenge” that threw down a gauntlet to pull off such car theft, Hyundai and Kia said.
Car thefts linked to the challenge have resulted in at least 14 crashes and eight deaths, according to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
TikTok did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
