AUSTIN, Texas — The Travis County Sheriff’s Office and Hyundai Motors America partnered for an event Saturday to offer a free vehicle anti-theft software update at the Travis County Community Center (15822 Foothill Farms Loop, Pflugerville, TX).
At the event, which runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., specially trained mobile service technicians will be on site to perform and complete the software upgrade, which should take less than 30 minutes. No appointments or registration are required, and all Hyundai owners can also receive a free steering wheel lock.
Hyundai anti-theft clinics are being held across the country to help Hyundai owners protect their vehicles from the viral Tik Tok trend and “Kia Boys” theft method.
“In the summer of 2021, we had a sharp increase in thefts of our customers’ vehicles, so Hyundai developed a software patch that we are installing here,” said Dave VandLinde, vice president of Hyundai Motors America. “This patch is for 2011 through 2021 Hyundai vehicles where you insert a key and turn it to start the vehicle.”
According to a report released on August 27 by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, Hyundai’s anti-theft clinics were “extremely effective” and owners of Hyundai vehicles without an electronic immobilizer “should contact their local dealer about the software upgrade.”
Previous reporting:Hyundai provides Austin Police with free anti-theft software upgrade
