A Kia EV6 was reported stolen in the UK, with claims that delays in the manufacturer's location information hindered the recovery of the vehicle.
The Times reported on July 2, citing the case of Ian Fogg, stating that Kia's response system for vehicle theft is inadequate.
Fogg discovered his EV6 had been stolen after receiving a notification that his application was deactivated in March. The vehicle was equipped with an immobilizer that requires a registered key to start, which was stored in a Faraday box to block wireless signals.
Despite these precautions, the car was stolen, and the Fogg couple attempted to track its location using an Apple AirTag. However, the thief removed the AirTag, forcing them to rely on the Kia Connect app.
They requested location updates from Kia multiple times, but the information was slow to arrive. According to The Times, the vehicle was spotted in North London and Dartford, Kent, but by the time police arrived, it had already disappeared. It is believed the vehicle was later transported to Lithuania.
Fogg argued that car manufacturers should implement password features to prevent app deactivation and establish dedicated channels for reporting thefts.
Kia stated, "We are working with law enforcement to reduce customer risk." However, they clarified that the vehicle connectivity feature is designed for customer convenience and is not intended as a real-time tracking system for stolen vehicles.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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