Hyundai and Kia are no strangers to theft problems. In 2022 and 2023, the brands made news after the Kia Boys ran amok using low-tech methods to steal base model cars, like using a USB charger to turn the ignition cylinder. Attacks have gotten more sophisticated since then, and now thieves with deeper pockets and higher ambitions have begun seeking out Hyundai EVs as a target. Their tool? A hacking apparatus disguised to look like a Nintendo Game Boy.
But in some cases, owners weren't even in the same country when the theft occurred. This device then unlocks the vehicle and can be used as a key to drive off. And when safely away from the crime scene, the thief can remove the car's connectivity modules to render the GPS and in-app tracking useless. Resellers of the device claim that the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Genesis GV60 can be stolen in a matter of seconds.