Hyundai Requests £49 for Cybersecurity Enhancements to Car Locks
Hyundai Charges UK Ioniq 5 Owners for Security Upgrade Amidst Rising Electric Vehicle Thefts
Hyundai Motor UK is offering an optional security upgrade to Ioniq 5 owners for £49 ($65) to combat a spate of car thefts affecting electric vehicle owners in Britain. The upgrade aims to block the use of unauthorized electronic devices that can intercept and fake key fob signals, allowing criminals to unlock and start the car without the owner's key.
The devices, resembling Game Boys, have been in use for over five years in the UK and Europe and have been linked to several vehicle thefts with a combined value of £180,000 ($242,000). West Yorkshire Police arrested a three-man gang involved in such a case earlier this year.
Hyundai's update states that all vehicles produced by the company are developed and certified in accordance with all applicable security and regulatory standards. The upgrade is part of the company's commitment to supporting customers in the face of evolving security threats, including the use of unauthorized electronic devices to bypass vehicle locking systems.
However, the policy of charging customers for the fix has caused mixed reactions and criticism among consumers and experts who argue that such cybersecurity fixes, particularly those addressing exploits in vehicle safety systems, should be provided at no extra cost to maintain customer trust and security standards.
The UK automotive industry generally recalls or issues free updates for critical security vulnerabilities, especially for relatively new cars still under warranty. Hyundai's stance on charging for the Ioniq 5 security upgrade thus appears somewhat at odds with the growing consumer-centric approach in UK automotive security.
The incident involving Elliott Ingram's stolen Ioniq 5 was reported by The Guardian. Ingram stated that he would have put in place a secondary immobilizer or steering lock had he known of the problem. Similar gadgets have been used in car thefts for much longer.
The government has announced its intent to ban keyless repeaters and signal jammers, acknowledging the widespread nature of electronic car thefts. Other manufacturers facing similar issues tend to absorb the costs or handle them through recalls or complimentary updates, aligning with customer expectations around security.
In response to questions about the upgrade, Hyundai's website did not respond. The company's stance on the issue has raised concerns among consumers, who expect manufacturers to prioritize security and customer satisfaction over profit.
Summary
| Aspect | Hyundai (Ioniq 5 UK) | UK Industry Practice | |--------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Security vulnerability | Keyless entry exploitable by electronic devices (Game Boy-like) | Same vulnerability affects multiple brands and models | | Response | Paid upgrade (£49/$65), optional, hardware & software fix | Usually free recalls or no-cost security software updates | | Industry view cited by Hyundai | Issue is "industry-wide," response "in line with industry" | Government and industry push for banning exploit devices and free fixes | | Market reaction | Criticism for charging; mixed consumer responses | Expectation for no-cost fixes due to security nature |
The security issue is an industry-wide problem, and Hyundai is responding in line with industry practices. However, the policy of charging customers for the fix has caused controversy and raised questions about the company's commitment to customer satisfaction and security.
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