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☆ EV slump, Hertz fire sale take used Teslas to 'no haggle' $25,000 price
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Bob Woods | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Also, some used EVs are eligible for up to $4,000 in federal tax credits , and several states offer tax credits or rebates. Although as with buying any used car — from manufacturers and independent dealers, online marketplaces or private owners — there are pros and cons. The Hertz Car Sales website "Shop EVs" button recently listed 1,475 of the 1,638 used EVs listed as "Hertz Certified." A March study by automotive research firm iSeeCars found that the average used car price was down 3.6% from last year, though used EV prices had plummeted 31.8%, equating to $14,418 in value. A follow-up question — "Can you tell me about 2022 Tesla Model 3s being sold by Hertz Car Sales?"

Persons: Hertz, —, iSeeCars, Elon, Karl Brauer, Brauer, Yossi Levi, Guy, Tesla, Carvana, Edmunds, ChatGPT, Hertz's, Matt Quinn, CarGurus, Eugene Park Organizations: Hertz, EV, Hertz Global Holdings, U.S, Bolts, Car, Hertz Tesla, Tesla, ChatGPT, Hertz Car Locations: U.S, Massachusetts, Colorado, Edmunds, CarGurus

☆ My Kia got stolen thanks to a TikTok trend. Here's what I wish I had known before buying this car.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Morgan Goldwich | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Morgan Goldwich had her 2015 Kia Optima stolen at the end of 2023. Not your average car theftA viral TikTok dubbed the " Kia Challenge " surfaced in 2021, showing how to hijack vulnerable cars with just a USB cord. Kia and Hyundai models manufactured within a specific period — between 2011 to 2021 for Kias and 2015 to 2021 for Hyundais — lack electronic immobilizers. Insurance companies have taken noteDespite my good fortune in finding my car (if you consider having to pay a $1,000 deductible for damages lucky), I'm now faced with the hurdle of dealing with car insurance . When I was first searching for insurance, before my car got stolen, Progressive denied me on this same basis.

Persons: Morgan Goldwich, Kia Optima, —, I'd, it's, TikTok's, Kias, I'm Organizations: Service, TikTok, Kia Boys, Kia, Hyundai, Insurance, State Locations: Kias, Colorado, Hyundais, Colorado Springs

☆ I'm a car dealer who only sells electric cars. This is what everyone else is getting wrong — and the advice I give prospective EV buyers.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Alex Lawrence is the CEO and cofounder of an all-electric used car dealership in Utah. AdvertisementAdvertisementAlex Lawrence is a 49-year-old entrepreneur and the CEO of EVAuto, an all-electric used car dealership in Bountiful, Utah, which he co-founded in 2019. EVAuto sells a variety of electric cars, from Tesla to Porsche to Rivian. We wanted to be the largest seller of used electric vehicles in America. Now that they're going to be on the Supercharger network, that helps solve the charging problem.

Persons: Alex Lawrence, Alexa St, John, —, EVAuto, Price, I'm, I've, they've, they're, Lorenzo Di Cola, It's, you'll, We've, Tesla, it's, Tim Levin Organizations: Service, Porsche, Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Plaid Locations: Utah, Bountiful , Utah, America, Italy

☆ A Tesla sedan drag raced a $4 million Bugatti — the results were surprisingly close
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Tesla Model S drag raced a Bugatti Chiron. The Bugatti won, but the races were surprisingly close given the cost difference between the cars. The channel pitted the sportiest Tesla you can buy — a four-door Model S Plaid with the optional Track Package — against the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, a multimillion-dollar supercar from a brand synonymous with world-beating performance. But the results were closer than you might expect — especially given that the Model S will run you only a little over $100,000. I say "only" because the Chiron Super Sport would have cost at least $4 million when new.

Persons: Bugatti Chiron, Chiron, Bugatti, Tesla Organizations: Tesla, Bugatti, Service, Plaid Locations: Wall, Silicon, Teslas

☆ I drove Lamborghini's wild, spaceship-inspired concept car and got a glimpse of the brand's electric future
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Lamborghini recently unveiled the Lanzador, a wild-looking concept car that previews its first EV. The Lamborghini Lanzador. The Lamborghini Lanzador. Jordan Lenssen/Lenssen PhotoEven as it looks years ahead, the brand isn't ready to fully embrace touchscreens and give up on clicky, clacky switches. The Lamborghini Lanzador.

Persons: Lamborghini, Lamborghini Lanzador, Jamey Price Lamborghini, wasn't, Jamey Price, could've, Tim Levin, Jordan Lenssen, Rouven Mohr, Mohr, " Mohr, Lambo Organizations: Service, Lamborghini, Sporting, Huracan Locations: Wall, Silicon, Monterey , California

☆ Opinion | Kia and Hyundai Helped Enable a Crime Wave. They Should Pay for It.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Farhad Manjoo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The homicide rate has dropped significantly over the last year, based on data from 30 American cities. Police departments and city officials point to this: Millions of Kias and Hyundais are ridiculously easy to steal. But Hyundai and Kia, which come under the same South Korean conglomerate, did not install this basic device in somewhere around nine million cars sold between 2011 and 2022. A couple of years ago, videos showing how to hotwire the vulnerable cars began to pop up online. Without going into details, the hack involves jamming a small object into the car’s starter and turning it as if it were a key.

Persons: Jeff Asher Organizations: Criminal, D.C, Baltimore Sun, Police, Hyundai, Kia Locations: Atlanta, Philadelphia , Washington, Chicago , New Orleans, Buffalo, Durham, N.C, United States

☆ Hyundai and Kia warn drivers of 90,000 vehicles to park outside due to fire risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

These include 2023 Kia Soul and Sportage vehicles and 2023 and 2024 Kia Seltos models. Last year, owners of nearly 500,000 Kia and Hyundai vehicles were, similarly, warned to park their vehicles away from structures because of a risk of fire. Hyundai and Kia also recalled over 250,000 vehicles in 2022, again warning drivers to park outside, because of the potential for fire from a trailer hitch wiring issue. In a 2021 recall, owners of 380,000 Kia vehicles were also warned to park outside because there was a risk of fire from electronic circuits under the hood. In 2020, Kia recalled 295,000 vehicles because they could catch fire while driving because of fuel leaks.

Persons: Hyundais, Kia Organizations: CNN, Hyundai, Kia, National, Hyundai Motor Group Locations: United States, Canada, South

☆ New York City files lawsuit blaming Hyundai, Kia for 'spiraling epidemic' of car thefts after 'Kia boys' viral TikTok thefts cause spike in stolen cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

New York City joins a growing list of cities and states taking legal action against Kia and Hyundai. New York City has joined a growing list of cities and states to take legal action against Hyundai and Kia. TikTokers have suggested a "hack" to get a Kia or Hyundai car started without the key. In New York City, the suit cited, Kia thefts increased about 241% between 2021 and 2022. Hyundai thefts similarly increased by 179%.

Persons: Kia, Kias, Louis, Hyundais, TikTokers Organizations: Kia, Hyundai, Morning, Progressive, European Union, America, New York Police Department, Mercedes, Apple Locations: York City, New York City, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego, Columbus, St, Seattle, New York, Canada

REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiNEW YORK, June 6 (Reuters) - New York City on Tuesday sued Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) and Kia Corp (000270.KS), accusing the South Korean automakers of negligence and creating a public nuisance by selling vehicles that are too easy to steal. The most populous U.S. city joined several other major cities that have sued Hyundai and Kia over the thefts, including Baltimore, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego and Seattle. In contrast, the city said thefts of BMW, Ford, Honda, Mercedes, Nissan and Toyota vehicles have fallen this year. Last month, Hyundai and Kia reached a $200 million settlement of a consumer class action over the thefts. The case is City of New York v Hyundai Motor America et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Kim Hong, Hyundais, Kias, Kia, Jonathan Stempel, Chris Reese, Jamie Freed Organizations: Hyundai Motors, REUTERS, Tuesday, Hyundai Motor, Kia Corp, South Korean, Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Ford, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, New York City, U.S, Baltimore, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego, Seattle, Manhattan, New York, of New York, Southern District, Southern District of New York

☆ NYC to give out 500 Apple AirTags for residents to put in their cars to combat car theft
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Laura Ly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Some Kia, Hyundai, and Honda models are getting stolen in New York City so often that the Mayor is giving out Apple AirTags to help residents track their vehicles. The city plans to distribute 500 AirTags to residents to place in their cars to combat car thefts in target neighborhoods, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced at a press conference on Sunday. Adams made the announcement in a Bronx neighborhood that has seen over 200 car thefts this year alone – the highest of any precinct in the city. The Hyundai and Kia vehicles in question include the Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson, and the Kia Forte and Sportage, with 2015-2019 model years. So far this year, the NYPD has recorded thefts of 966 Kia and Hyundai cars – marking an increase of 819 cars since last year, Chell said.

☆ Eric Adams is handing out hundreds of free Apple AirTags in a bid to cut the number of auto thefts in New York
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mayor Eric Adams said Sunday the city will hand out 500 free Apple AirTags to New York residents. New York will hand out hundreds of free Apple Air Tags in a bid to cut the number of auto thefts in New York, mayor Eric Adams announced Sunday. "The aggravated number of grand larceny autos continues to drive up crime in our city," Adams said at a press conference. "This simple device, this simple AirTag, hidden in a car location that a person is not aware of, is an excellent tracking device." In June last year, an Indiana woman tracked her boyfriend whom she suspected was cheating on her, using the tracking device, and then killed him.

☆ Tiktok-inspired 'Kia Boys' car thefts could be a $600 million problem, according to a new court document
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Jack Newsham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In cities across the country, thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles have skyrocketed. Now some drivers are trying to get Kia and Hyundai to pay the tab, saying the security features were illegally lax. And recently, auto insurers made a preliminary estimate of the total cost: $500 million to $600 million. But actually installing the updates in a reported 3.8 million Kias and 4.5 million Hyundais is another story, and state regulators have urged the carmakers to recall the impacted vehicles. She said Hyundai and Kia should move quickly to get a handle on the case and win back public trust.

CNN —A coalition of attorneys general for 17 states and the District of Columbia on Thursday called for a federal recall of Hyundai and Kia vehicles that they say are unsafe and too easy to steal. “Hyundai and Kia announced that they will initiate voluntary service campaigns to offer software updates for certain vehicles with this starting-system vulnerability. Hyundai and Kia operate as separate companies in the United States, but Hyundai Motor Group owns a large stake in Kia, and various Hyundai and Kia models share much of their engineering. “The bottom line is, Kia’s and Hyundai’s failure to install standard safety features on many of their vehicles have put vehicle owners and the public at risk,” Attorney General Bonta said. The attorneys general’s letter asserts that the ease of theft of these Hyundai and Kia vehicles constitutes a safety hazard and the vehicles fail to meet federal standards for theft prevention.

☆ So many Kias and Hyundais are being stolen using just a screwdriver and a USB cord that 17 state attorneys general are calling for a recall on millions of vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A group of state attorneys general is asking the federal government to recall millions of Hyundai and Kia vehicles. They cite a string of thefts in the last few years, which seem to be inspired by TikTok videos. It is unacceptable that families and communities should be forced to shoulder the cost of Kia's and Hyundai's failures." At least eight deaths and several injuries have been attributed to accidents involving stolen Kias or Hyundais, the letter states. The company also said it has shipped over 47,000 steering wheel locks to thousands of Kia owners, as well as to hundreds of local law enforcement agencies for them to distribute.

☆ Cheap new cars are going extinct while $60,000 SUVs and trucks flood the market
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The $60,000 car is having a moment — and may be here to stayIn 2018, 44% of new vehicles sold were under $30,000, per an Edmunds release. Some of this has been going on since before COVID, especially as many automakers discontinued sedans several years earlier. Profit, as Jominy pointed out, is also a key factor — and automakers are even willing to sacrifice market share for it. "There is definitely a void happening in the market for those vehicles," Kunes added. "If they focus purely on luxury cars and high-end SUVs that cost $100,000, there are only so many people that can afford those."

[1/3] The Gateway Arch is seen across from snow covered banks of the Mississippi River during cold weather in St Louis, Missouri, U.S. February 11, 2021. "Big corporations like Kia and Hyundai must be held accountable for endangering our residents and putting profit over people,” said St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones. Many Hyundai and Kia vehicles have no electronic immobilizers, which prevent break-ins and bypassing the ignition. Since May 2022, St. Louis police received more than 4,500 reports of thefts of Kia or Hyundai vehicles. Sixty-one percent of vehicles stolen in St. Louis have been Kias and Hyundais, St. Louis said.

☆ I charged a Kia at a Tesla Supercharger and saw how Elon Musk can make EV charging suck less for everybody
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I tested out the experience in a Kia Niro EV that Kia lent me. Charging a non-Tesla at a Tesla charging station was notably smooth and convenient. The Kia Niro EV charges at a Tesla Supercharger in Brewster, NY. The Kia Niro EV charges at a Tesla Supercharger in Brewster, NY. The Kia Niro EV charges at an EVgo charging station.

☆ Tesla opening its exclusive Superchargers to rivals leaves some owners worried about waiting in line behind Fords and Kias
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The reliable and extensive Supercharger network used to be only for Tesla owners. Some Tesla owners worry the move could lead to long waits at charging stations. He believes the Tesla charging experience is so far ahead of the competition that non-Tesla owners will arrive in droves. Other Tesla owners Insider spoke with don't foresee major issues and cheer a move that could accelerate EV adoption. Experts said Tesla Superchargers could get more crowded, but there probably won't be major issues.

☆ Kia and Hyundai Thefts Are Soaring — and It's TikTok's Fault
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Britta Lokting | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Lebeau-Chorn and Jenkins are just two victims of an unprecedented surge in car thefts that has swept across US cities in the past two years. The situation has become so critical that two major auto-insurance companies, State Farm and Progressive, have stopped insuring vulnerable Kia and Hyundai models. Safety shortcutsThe TikTok video that sparked the challenge — a how-to reportedly created by user @robbierayyy — exposed a security flaw in Kia models from 2011 to 2021 and Hyundai models from 2015 to 2021. All Kia vehicles are subject to and comply fully with rigorous testing rules and regulations outlined in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards." In Illinois last month, three 13-year-olds were arrested after being seen in a stolen Kia that hit and killed a 71-year-old man.

☆ Automakers abandoned the 'starter car' — and it's raising prices for everyone
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Many car companies are prioritizing high-profit vehicles over starter cars. Though those figures are averages, it's clear that lower-end vehicles are more costly than they used to be — a direction automakers have been moving in for years. "There is definitely a void happening in the market for those vehicles," Kunes added. What car buyers can look out forThe used market isn't much better, Kunes noted — the average used vehicle transaction price was $29,226 last month, per J.D. Power — "which really puts a lot of pressure on that lower-end market, and there's no manufacturers really stepping up to fill that void."

☆ I've tested 19 different electric cars. The technology is amazing, but you shouldn't buy one yet.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Testing well over a dozen new electric cars has convinced me that I want one someday. New electric cars are too expensiveThe Tesla Model Y costs close to $70,000. Today, you can't find a used EV with more than 250 miles of EPA-rated range for less than $24,000. Tim Levin/InsiderUnderdeveloped charging infrastructure is widely cited as one of the top reasons more people don't buy more electric cars. Did you recently buy an electric car, sell one, or trade it in for a different brand?

☆ Some auto insurers are refusing to cover some Hyundai and Kia models
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Progressive and State Farm, two of America’s largest auto insurers, are refusing to write policies in certain cities for some older Hyundai and Kia models that have been deemed too easy to steal, according to one of the insurance companies and media reports. The insurance companies did not tell CNN which cities or states were involved. Hyundai and Kia operate as separate companies in the United States, but Hyundai Motor Group owns a large stake in Kia and various Hyundai and Kia models share much of their engineering. Engine immobilizers are now standard on all Kia vehicles, according to a statement by the automaker and the company says it has been developing and testing security software for vehicles not originally equipped with an immobilize. Hyundai said it is providing free steering wheel locks to some police departments around the country to give local residents who have easily stolen Hyundai models.

☆ I've tested 19 different electric cars — and while I love the technology, I wouldn't buy one yet
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Testing well over a dozen new electric cars has convinced me that I want one someday. New electric cars are too expensiveThe Tesla Model Y costs close to $70,000. Tim Levin/InsiderPeople who are unwilling or unable to shell out for a new car buy used. But the market for electric cars is so young — and they're so pricy to begin with — that there aren't all that many appealing secondhand options in my budget. Tim Levin/InsiderUnderdeveloped charging infrastructure is widely cited as one of the top reasons more people don't buy more electric cars.

☆ This new $450,000 electric car combines the retro style of a 1960s Mustang with the minimalist interior of a Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I drove the Tesla Model Y and the Kia EV6 to see how the two electric SUVs stacked up. The Tesla Model Y. Tim Levin/InsiderTesla sells some of the longest-range EVs on the market. The Model Y. Tim Levin/InsiderSome buyers might prefer the Kia's sporty and bold interior over Tesla's minimalist and button-free aesthetic. The Model Y. Tim Levin/InsiderThe Model Y's big touchscreen makes it a tech fan's dream. But if you prize a minimalist interior, tech features out the wazoo, and Supercharger convenience, go with the Model Y.

☆ I drove sporty electric SUVs from Tesla and Kia: Why I'd buy the $41,000 EV6 over the $66,000 Model Y
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I drove the Tesla Model Y and Kia EV6 to see how the two electric SUVs stack up. The Tesla Model Y. Tim Levin/InsiderTesla sells some of the longest-range EVs on the market. The Tesla Model Y. Tim Levin/InsiderThe EV6 is one of the quickest-charging electric cars you can buy. The Tesla Model Y. Tim Levin/InsiderBut some buyers might prefer the Kia's sporty and bold interior over Tesla's minimalist and button-free aesthetic. The Tesla Model Y. Tim Levin/InsiderThe Model Y's big touchscreen makes it a tech fan's dream.

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