Banning TikTok could save car owners millions of dollars

The other day, TikTok resumed its work in the US after Donald Trump promised to lift its ban by the US government. But not everyone is happy with this decision of the new president, especially the victims of the Kia Challenge flash mob.

This was written by Motor Biscuit.

TikTok trend for millions

In 2021, a video appeared on TikTok showing how some Hyundai and Kia models are stolen using a USB cable. The trick worked on cars with mechanical keys and no engine immobilizers. This video became viral mainly among teenagers. The Kia Challenge flashmob began, under the terms of which it was necessary to steal a Hyundai or Kia car.

By 2022, police departments across the country reported massive increases in theft. In Chicago, 551 Kia and Hyundai cars were stolen in the first half of the year. By the end of the year, that number had increased to 6,250. In Milwaukee, burglaries increased by more than 200% between 2019 and 2021. Moreover, 67% of the stolen vehicles were Kia and Hyundai models. This problem also caused at least 14 accidents in which eight people died.

In 2023, Kia and Hyundai settled a class action lawsuit for $200,000,000. The agreement covered approximately 9,000,000 car owners in the US.

Car theft virus

After TikTok is legal again in the US, the question arises as to which cars will be the next victims of flash mobs? Criminals will always find car security flaws. But without TikTok, spreading this information would be more difficult. Potential car thieves — many of them are teenagers — might never have interfered with the Kia if they had not seen it done.