Hyundai

The announcement by the South Korea-based companies expands on a partnership they launched three months ago to produce batteries at the same site west of Savannah

The current version of the Mitsubishi Mirage, which reached U.S. dealerships a decade ago, sold for an average of $19,205 last month

A sharp uptick in thefts of Hyundais and Kias over the past two years has been linked to viral videos posted on social media platforms that teach people how to exploit a security vulnerability to steal the cars

The cars are not equipped with push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft devices. That has allowed thieves to easily steal them using just a screwdriver and a USB cord

Data from seven U.S. cities shows that the number of Hyundai and Kia thefts is still growing despite the companies’ efforts to fix the glitch, which makes 8.3 million vehicles relatively easy targets for thieves

Most of those manufacturers’ cars sold in the United States over the last decade do not have engine immobilizers. This device prevents the engine from starting unless the key is present