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The city of Lexington filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Hyundai USA and Kia Corporation, claiming the automakers have created a public safety nuisance because their vehicles lack anti-theft technology.

“Hyundais and Kias are stolen at alarming rates in Lexington and across the country, because they lack engine immobilizers or other reasonable anti-theft technology that has been used by other carmakers for decades to prevent vehicle theft,” said Mayor Linda Gorton. “Our top priority is to make sure our streets are safe.”

Hyundais and Kias made up roughly 40% of vehicles stolen this past winter and spring in Lexington, according to Gorton’s office. In December 2023 alone, Lexington recorded more thefts of Hyundais and Kias than all other car makes combined.

Engine immobilizers have been the industry standard for decades to prevent vehicle theft. Hyundai and Kia have chosen to be outliers in the U.S. market by not equipping the majority of their vehicles in this country with them.

Between 2011 and 2022, long after other carmakers adopted immobilizer technology that ensures car ignitions cannot not be started without their keys, Hyundai and Kia failed to keep up with the times, the city claims. Only 26% of 2015-model Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the U.S. had immobilizers, compared to 96% of vehicles from all other manufacturers. Hyundai and Kia install immobilizers in 100% of their models for sale in European and Canadian markets.

“By cutting corners on safety, these car manufacturers are leaving it to American communities to clean up their mess,” Gorton stated. “These cases consume our law enforcement and emergency resources. Car theft goes hand in hand with reckless driving, which in turn results in injuries and even death.”

The lawsuit seeks monetary and injunctive relief, including costs related to Lexington law enforcement’s time and resources, the cost of emergency services, and other harms to the community related to vehicle thefts.

The federal suit was filed in the Central District of California, where litigation against Hyundai and Kia for vehicle thefts has been centralized. The Seattle-based law firm of Keller Rohrback and the Louisville-based Poppe Law Firm are representing Lexington. They are highly experienced in this area of the law, and are working on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that any money they receive in the case would come from Kia and Hyundai.