CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – A two-day anti-theft software upgrade is available for Hyundai owners at the Chesterfield Mall.
Vehicles from 2011 through 2021 that have a blade key are the ones needing to be seen, according to Dave VandeLinde, vice president of Hyundai Motor America. However, if a Hyundai owner with a push-to-start button wants to go, they can receive a complimentary steering wheel lock.
Cars went through the pop-up tent Friday to get the software update, similar to a software update on a cell phone.
As thousands of cars are stolen in St. Louis and across the country, the free upgrade was created to stop the ‘Hyundai hack.’
“We only use Wi-Fi, so there’s kind of a dongle that plugs in under the dashboard,” VandeLinde said. “It communicates wirelessly to an Android tablet…we just push the update down into the vehicle, like updating your television or your phone.
The software update specifically addresses the type of theft that’s been popularized on TikTok and social media. So, it prevents that type of theft on the vehicle.”
While customers wait, snacks and an anti-theft steering wheel lock are available.
“We always have Hyundai’s in my family and my dad got his done this morning,” Piper Cunningham, Hyundai owner, said. “My brother was a victim of his car getting stolen due to this issue. So, we want to make sure we’re protected with these cars and get the crime lower in our communities.”
Hundreds of upgrades performed Friday and many more expected on Saturday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
“There are 3.7 million Hyundai customers across the country that need this software so we’re over halfway through,” VandeLinde said. “So, we have 830 dealers that are doing two to 3,000 of these every day.”
No appointment is needed, and the service is free to those who lease or own Hyundai models from 2011 through 2021.
