Latest news with #Hyundais
San Francisco Chronicle
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- San Francisco Chronicle
This is the most stolen car in San Francisco — and it's not a Honda or Toyota
For the 12th year in a row, Hondas were the most frequently stolen car brand in San Francisco. But over the last two years, another car maker saw one of its models stolen more than any other car in the city. While car thefts in San Francisco are low compared to prior years, new police department data shows that more than 1,200 Hondas were stolen in the city across 2023 and 2024. But the most frequently stolen model in San Francisco was the Hyundai Elantra, which a recent national study found was the vehicle most at risk of being stolen across the country. In San Francisco, out of 1,120 Hyundais stolen, more than 500 of them were Elantras. The second-most frequently stolen car model was the Honda Civic, with 420 thefts from 2023 to 2024. Following that was the Honda Accord, with 339 thefts, and the Hyundai Sonata, with 298 thefts. Honda, Hyundai and Toyota were the top three car brands stolen most from 2023 to 2024, respectively. The number of brands stolen in a particular city often strongly corresponds with the numbers of cars that are popular in that city or state, said Brian Maas, president of the California New Dealers Association, who said he wasn't surprised to see Honda and Toyota in the top three, given how pervasive they are across the state. 'Californians have expressed a longstanding preference for Toyota and Honda vehicles,' he said. 'It makes logical sense. The more you sell, the more opportunities for those vehicles to be stolen.' Hyundais were most recently listed as the 7th largest brand in California, Maas said, well behind Tesla and other brands. But in San Francisco, Hyundais saw a sharp spike in theft in San Francisco from 2022 to 2023, when the number of thefts jumped from about 140 to over 750. By 2024, however, thefts of Hyundais had fallen by a third. Still, the temporary spike of Hyundai thefts aligns with the national study of stolen vehicles, where researchers speculated that the Elantra's 'popularity among thieves' may be because its parts are compatible with other Hyundai models, a boon that makes the models more amenable to black-market resale and chop shops. Across the country, more than 48,445 Hyundai Elantras were stolen in 2023, according to Tinting Laws, a group of window tinting law experts who analyzed data from the Insurance Information Institute. Data from the Highway Loss Data Institute found that Hyundai and Kia thefts rapidly increased in recent years across the country, which the institute partly attributed to videos posted to social media that broadcasted the fact that certain car models lacked a security device that would normally stop a car from turning off without a specific fob or key. Hyundai and Kia agreed to pay upward of $200 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged the companies manufactured vehicles that made the cars easier to steal, the New York Times reported. Recent theft numbers for Kia in San Francisco may reflect what was happening across the nation. Kia thefts jumped in 2021 from 43 to 97 in 2022. By 2023, they had reached 547. In 2024, thefts had plummeted to 207. Hyundai Motor America said it had included free software upgrades, cylinder protectors and reimbursement programs to thwart thefts of certain 'entry-level models' that lacked immobilizers, Reuters reported. The company said 68% of vehicles at risk had received those updates. Tesla — which held 12% market share of vehicles sold in California in 2024 — has not seen significant increases in thefts in San Francisco. Tesla thefts have gone up slightly in the past two years, but not by much. In 2023, there were 33 reported thefts, and those reduced slightly to 20 in 2024, SFPD data shows. Maas said that although Tesla had moved up to the top three in popularity across the state, their market share seems to be declining and their reshare value has been dropping precipitously, which could explain why the cars are not as attractive to thieves. 'Stealing vehicles is a crime of opportunity. … And you're going to have a harder time getting rid of the parts on a Tesla vehicle than you would on some of those other cars,' said Maas. 'Toyotas and Hondas are going to stay on the road for a long time and consequentially, the value of those vehicles as used cars is going to be significantly higher.' Nationwide, car theft numbers are seeing decreases. In 2024, about 850,000 vehicles were reported stolen nationwide, according to data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. 2024 was the first time since 2021 that thefts did not surpass 1 million. Numbers in San Francisco seem to reflect similar trends. Car thefts decreased by 22% last year, from over 5,100 in 2023 to just under 4,000 in 2024. Harsha Devulapalli contributed to this report.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
St. Cloud sees sudden spike in car thefts involving Kias and Hyundais
The wave of car thefts targeting certain Kia and Hyundai models that hit the Twin Cities a few years ago seems to have found its way to St. Cloud. St. Cloud PD reported on Thursday that it has seen an increase in thefts and attempted thefts reported around the city, many of which involve Kias and Hyundais manufactured between the early 2010s and early 2020s. Police say that until now, St. Cloud had mostly avoided the "trend" that saw these models targeted in other cities, which followed widespread exposure of an apparent security flaw that was shared widely on TikTok. In a press release, St. Cloud PD confirms the vehicles are being "specifically targeted due to a widely known security issues that allows thieves to start vehicles without a key." "The suspects in these cases are primarily juvenile males," the department continues, "and investigations indicate that the activity is widespread, affecting neighborhoods throughout the city." "The purpose of these thefts appears to be joy riding as there is no evidence that the vehicles are being stolen for monetary gain," the release says. Parents are being asked to keep an eye on their children and watch for signs that they may be involved. The security flaws on certain Kia and Hyundai vehicles sparked nationwide lawsuits, with a civil investigation also launched by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who accused the car companies of violating the state's consumer protection and public nuisance laws by failing to equip anti-theft technology.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Teenager arrested after car break-in spree in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A 16-year-old was arrested after attempting to break into three vehicles in Springfield on Monday. Nine individuals found in North Adams apartment during narcotics search The Springfield Police Department states that on Monday at 12:30 a.m., officers were sent to the 0-100 block of Melrose Street for a report of breaking and entering into a vehicle. When officers arrived, two suspects were seen breaking into three Hyundais. One of the suspects broke the ignition on one of the vehicles in an attempt to steal it. Police say that multiple items were stolen from the vehicles. One suspect was found after running away from the officers on Northampton Avenue. The officers were able to catch up to the 16-year-old on Wilbraham Avenue. The teenager had items on him that were reported stolen from a car on Melrose Street, and was placed under arrest. Due to the suspect's age, his name, charges, and booking photo will not be released. This serves as a reminder that Hyundais and Kias are still regularly being broken into and attempted to be or are stolen. The police department is urging residents to get a highly visible steering wheel lock device to prevent these incidents from happening. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Bay Area sheriff's office giving out free steering wheel locks to Hyundai owners
(KRON) — In response to a nationwide surge in Hyundai thefts, one Bay Area sheriff's office is taking a proactive approach. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday it would be distributing 100 free steering wheel locks to eligible Hyundai owners as part of a crime prevention initiative. The locks were provided by the Hyundai Motor Company, SCCSO said, and will be available at the department's headquarters at 55 W. Younger Avenue in San Jose. The locks will be available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. as long as supply lasts. The Primary School, Zuckerberg-backed school for low-income students, to shut down The free lock initiative follows an increase in thefts of certain Hyundai models that lack engine immobilizers that are typically found in newer vehicles. Thefts of Hyundais have risen across the county by more than 1,000% since 2020, SCCSO said. Part of the reason behind the rise, according to law enforcement officials, are viral social media videos that show viewers how to exploit the security vulnerabilities on a Hyundai. 'In Santa Clara County, we're trying to put a dent in motor vehicle thefts,' said Santa Clara County Sheriff Bob Jonsen. 'These steering wheel locks offer a simple but effective way for residents to deter theft and protect their vehicles.' To receive a free steering wheel lock, Hyundai owners must: Present valid proof of vehicle registration Be a resident of Santa Clara County Arrive early – devices will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis The steering wheel locks are intended as a temporary deterrent, the sheriff's office said, until Hyundai owners can get a permanent software update or repair. SCCSO encourages owners to contact their local Hyundai dealership to see if their vehicle qualifies for an upgrade. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Honk if you hate Elon: how protesters are jumping on Tesla's biggest weakness
Americans angry about Elon Musk's unprecedented cuts to government services are voicing their displeasure at Tesla showrooms, and Musk isn't happy about it. "Who is funding and organizing all these paid protests?" he recently groused on X, referring to the ongoing wave of Tesla Takedown demonstrations taking place across the country. But the better question for Musk might be: "Who built my showrooms in a way that made them such ideal targets for demonstrations?" Because the answer is: Elon Musk. Car dealerships tend to be relegated to the outskirts of big cities, but most of Tesla's 276 showrooms in the United States are located smack in the middle of bustling neighborhoods full of wealthy progressives. That puts them right next to popular stores and busy restaurants, increasing the brand's visibility and foot traffic. It's ideal if you want to sell a status-symbol electric car — but maybe not so ideal when people are up in arms about your full-tilt, questionably legal operation to gut federal services to millions of Americans. Musk put his showrooms in tony blue neighborhoods for two good reasons. First, he needed a way to get around state laws that bar carmakers from selling directly to consumers. So Musk turned Tesla's lack of in-person sales into a selling point. The cars at a Tesla "gallery" aren't there for you to buy. Oh my, no! The grubby exchange of money happens online. That means that unlike other car dealerships, Musk doesn't need to park a fleet of unsold Hyundais along some six-lane highway on the far fringes of town. "Our stores," Musk boasted in 2012, "are designed to be informative and interactive in a delightful way and are simply unlike the traditional dealership with several hundred cars in inventory that a commissioned salesperson is tasked with selling." Second, Teslas are designed for affluent, progressive, early adopters, not the F-150 crowd. So it makes sense to locate the showrooms where the customers are. "We are deliberately positioning our store and gallery locations in high foot traffic, high visibility retail venues, like malls and shopping streets that people regularly visit in a relatively open-minded buying mood," Musk wrote. I asked the American Communities Project, which maintains a county-by-county map of the United States that breaks out demographic characteristics, to sync its data with the locations of all 276 Tesla showrooms. Sure enough, more than half are in what the ACP calls "big cities" or "urban suburbs." Likewise, overlaying Tesla showroom locations onto neighborhood data (courtesy of the National Zoning Atlas) shows that they're predominantly in census tracts designated as "inner suburbs." Those tracts are fewer than a third of all neighborhoods, but they're home to more than half of Tesla's showrooms. In short, Tesla put itself in places where people are better educated, higher-income — and more likely to vote Democratic. Which means that Tesla's clever showrooms have made the company vulnerable to protests by the very people the showrooms were built to attract. "Just when they basically won, it seems like they're finding a way to lose now," says Dan Crane, a law professor at the University of Michigan who is the author of the forthcoming book "Direct Hit: How Tesla Went Straight to Consumers and Smashed the Car Dealers' Monopoly." Sales are down, Cybertrucks are being set on fire, and Tesla's stock price has plummeted by more than 30% this year. "Their retail strategy made them sitting ducks," Crane says. People have protested car dealerships before. In the early 2000s, ecological activists actually blew up Hummers at dealerships on the West Coast. But Tesla showrooms are qualitatively different from those of its rivals. "They are actually in places where people congregate," says Dana Fisher, a sociologist at American University who is the author of "American Resistance." That's important for protest strategy, because it means Tesla showrooms are located near public spaces like sidewalks, where it's legal to stage a demonstration. Nobody has to trespass on a car lot. And a Tesla store in an outdoor mall or a bustling shopping street puts protesters right in the faces of potential Tesla buyers. "The goal here is shaming consumers about their purchasing decisions," Fisher says. "To protest a brand, it's great to be able to go to a dealership." It wouldn't make sense to protest at one of Donald Trump's hotels or golf courses — they're heavily guarded, they're too far away from everything, and the wealthy people patronizing them have already picked a side. But if you want to put pressure on Elon Musk's stock portfolio, the addresses of 276 possible protest locations are right there on the Tesla website. "Tesla facilities are basically the most common, well-known, and visible symbols of Elon Musk, and Elon Musk is the most well-known, visible symbol of the cruelty, inhumanity, and incompetence of this administration," says Patrice Kopistansky, a retired government lawyer who has helped organize Tesla protests in Virginia. The locations help, Kopistansky tells me. The Tesla showroom in Tysons Corner is surrounded by other high-end car dealerships, but those operations are set way back from the sidewalk, amid lots full of unsold cars. Tesla's building is close to the street, which makes it easy to picket. "I don't know why they built it like that," Kopistansky says. "They've probably come to regret it." And as a bonus? When Tesla drivers stop at the traffic light nearby, protesters can offer them bumper stickers printed for the occasion: "Sorry I bought a Tesla!" Adam Rogers is a senior correspondent at Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider
