BELLEVUE, Wash. — Hyundai is teaming up with local police departments in western Washington this weekend to host installation events of anti-theft software in vehicles.
The goal: to prevent Hyundai vehicles from getting stolen.
“I’m glad they’re doing it, I wish they would’ve did it sooner, but I’m comfortable with it now,” said Hyundai owner Harvey Garza.
Officials with Hyundai said they’re upgrading 2011 to 2021 Hyundai vehicles that have a turnkey to start ignition system. Hyundai rolled out this software update last February. Since then, 1.2 million Hyundai vehicles in western Washington have been upgraded. In hopes of safer roads ahead.
Hyundai is working to address the spike in auto-thefts involving its vehicles nationwide and here in Washington, the last couple of years.
“It’s always on the news, where they’re stealing the Hyundais and then they’re running into a pot shop,” said Garza.
He’s just one of a number of Hyundai vehicle owners that made their way to Bellevue’s Factoria Mall Saturday to get a free anti-theft software update installed into his vehicle from the motor company.
“Shouldn’t be as easy, just to do a couple wires or whatever, or screw driver thing whatever to steal it,” said Garza.
He’s had his Hyundai for a couple years. But for others, they’re new to this type of vehicle.
“I recently got my car like last week, because I’m a new driver,” said Jennifer De Souza. “But I’m just scared of it getting stolen in general, because it’s a car and I’ve heard people steal it easily.”
If you didn’t make it to Saturday’s Bellevue event, there will be another event at Factoria Mall, near Nordstrom Rack hosted by Hyundai and the Bellevue Police Department from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
