• Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector Machine Free for Affected House owners
• Machine Reinforces Ignition Cylinder Physique to Guard Towards Theft Strategies Popularized on Social Media
• Kia Continues to Present Theft Deterrent Software program Upgrades and Free Steering Wheel Locks
• 2nd Wave of Native Software program Improve Clinics Additionally Deliberate in Coordination with Native Kia Sellers in Key Cities Throughout U.S.
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 29, 2023 – Kia America introduced at present that it’s unveiling an extra safety measure to help its clients in response to criminals utilizing strategies of theft popularized on social media to steal or try to steal sure car fashions. This new {hardware} modification—an ignition cylinder protector—is designed for the automobiles that aren’t eligible for the safety software program improve that Kia launched earlier this yr and works to fight theft by reinforcing the ignition cylinder physique and stopping its elimination via the strategy of theft promoted in movies which have unfold throughout social media encouraging prison exercise.
This extra modification shall be accessible starting December 20 via a free Buyer Satisfaction Initiative for the fashions that aren’t eligible for the software program improve. Following the completion of the set up, every car shall be affixed with window decals to tell would-be automotive thieves that the car is provided with enhanced theft safety.
At the moment’s announcement is the most recent in a collection of great steps Kia has taken and continues to take to help its clients and communities which were impacted by criminals utilizing strategies of theft promoted on social media to steal or try to steal sure Kia automobiles. Along with this ignition cylinder protector, Kia has additionally designed a software program improve that additional enhances a car’s safety by limiting the operation of a car’s ignition system ought to a possible prison try to steal a locked car with out the important thing, and the corporate continues to strongly encourage eligible clients to have this software program improve put in. Since January, sellers have put in the anti-theft software program improve on near 940,000 automobiles, and Kia has hosted a number of momentary software program improve clinics to help native sellers with set up in key cities with many extra deliberate in early 2024.
Kia additionally continues to offer free steering wheel locks on to affected house owners of automobiles that aren’t eligible for the software program improve, and the corporate can also be working with native legislation enforcement companies and public officers to distribute them as properly. These free steering wheel locks additional improve the car’s safety and may function a visible deterrent for potential automotive thieves. Thus far, Kia has distributed greater than 325,000 locks and can proceed to offer them as they’re wanted. Earlier this yr, the corporate additionally introduced an settlement that can permit clients who’ve been impacted by car thefts to obtain extra advantages.
“Car safety is a prime precedence for Kia and we proceed to take motion to help our clients by serving to to guard their automobiles from thefts, which have been inspired by content material unfold throughout social media,” stated Greg Silvestri, vice chairman, service operations, Kia America. “Reinforcing the ignition cylinder physique is the most recent step to assist guard in opposition to these strategies of theft and we strongly encourage house owners of automobiles that don’t have engine immobilizers and should not in a position to obtain our safety software program improve to have this free safety measure put in.”
Kia is notifying impacted house owners about this new anti-theft Buyer Satisfaction Initiative via a number of factors of contact with directions to deliver their car to the closest Kia dealership to have the free ignition protector put in. Extra info is out there at https://ksupport.kiausa.com/ConsumerAffairs/SWLD, the place clients can enter their car’s Car Identification Quantity (VIN) to verify eligibility for the software program or protector set up.
Subset of Eligible Automobiles with Key Operated Ignition System
▪ 2011 – 2016 Sportage
▪ 2011 – 2016 Forte
▪ 2010 – 2022 Soul
▪ 2011 – 2021 Rio
▪ 2014 Sedona
Kia America – about us
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to prime automotive high quality surveys. Kia is acknowledged as one of many TIME100 Most Influential Corporations of 2023. Kia serves because the “Official Automotive Associate” of the NBA and gives a spread of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electrical automobiles offered via a community of over 775 sellers within the U.S., together with a number of automobiles and SUVs proudly assembled in America*.
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* The Sportage (excludes HEV and PHEV fashions), Sorento (excludes HEV and PHEV fashions), and Telluride are assembled in america from U.S. and globally sourced components.
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