The city of Madison is proceeding with plans to sue automakers Kia and Hyundai in federal court in hopes of recovering the costs of responding to stolen car reports, according to a report from Channel3000.
According to the city, there has been a 270% increase in the number of stolen Kia and Hyundai vehicles police have responded to in the last year. Last summer, Kia and Hyundai models made up nearly half of all the stolen cars reported in Madison.
Madison joins other cities like Milwaukee and Cleveland in suing the automakers, claiming they failed to offer adequate anti-theft protection. Thefts of Kias and Hyundais increased after videos circulated on social media showing how certain models could be started and stolen without a key using just a screwdriver and a USB cord.
The automakers now offer a free software update to protect affected vehicles that is available from local dealerships.
