Kia Challenge
The Kia Challenge is a TikTok trend linked to a series of motor vehicle thefts in 2022 targeting Kia and Hyundai vehicles in the United States and Australia. The thefts, mainly perpetrated by teenagers,[1] have resulted in four deaths in the United States and a large increase in thefts of the affected car models.
Incidents
United States
In Los Angeles, the trend has been linked to an 85% increase in thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles in 2022 compared to 2021. In Chicago, thefts of the affected vehicle models increased by over nine times, and children as young as 11 were reported to have participated in these thefts.[1]
New York
On October 23, 2022, six teenagers aged 14 to 19 stole a Kia Sportage in Buffalo, New York. Four of the teenagers were killed when they subsequently crashed the stolen car. The Buffalo Police Department linked the incident to the Kia Challenge.[2]
Internationally
In Brisbane, two Kia cars were damaged by Kia Challenge participants in failed attempts to steal the vehicles.[3]
Responses from involved companies
TikTok has committed to removing pertinent videos uploaded by Kia Challenge thieves from the platform. Kia and Hyundai have both expressed awareness of the increased thefts of their vehicles, with Kia also noting that new vehicles starting with their 2022 model year now come with immobilisers installed.[4]
See also
- Devious Licks, a 2021 internet challenge which encouraged participants to engage in theft of school property.
References
- ^ a b DiLella, Chris; Day, Andrea (September 8, 2022). "TikTok challenge spurs rise in thefts of Kia, Hyundai cars". CNBC. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
- ^ Do Couto, Sarah (October 26, 2022). "4 teens dead in crash possibly linked to TikTok car theft challenge, police say - National". Global News. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
- ^ Nagel, Jessica (July 30, 2022). "Alarming new TikTok challenge targets Kia cars". 9Now. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
- ^ List, Madeleine (July 25, 2022). "TikTok trend blamed for spike in car thefts. These brands are being targeted the most". Miami Herald. Miami. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
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