Minnesotans are sharing their heartbreaking stories of having their cars stolen as Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announces a settlement with car makers Hyundai and Kia.
Michael Christensen is a musician he has had his car stolen 9 times.
" The value of my car right now because it's been stole so many times, when they run the VIN, is a hundred dollars. I still have to pay six hundred and ninety dollars a month to insure it."
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and several other states sued the two car manufacturers because they failed to install safety measures that would protect it from being stolen.
Ellison says this created an epidemic of car thefts leading to serious crimes, including the death of Pa Ku Hang's mother.
Hang spoke about her mother at the press conference announcing the settlement.
"My mother never learned to speak perfect English, so for much of her life I was her voice, interpreting for her. Today I have the honor of speaking for her one last time."
Phoua Hang was driving with her husband as a passenger when their car was struck by a stolen gray Kia Sport on the night of Sunday, July 17, 2022, near Forest Street and Magnolia Avenue East.
Hang was pronounced dead at the scene, while her husband sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The occupants of the stolen vehicle fled the scene on foot.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the fatal hit-and-run crash the following month.
It all started with what Attorney General Ellison called the "Kia boys challenge" on line with people encouraged to steal the vehicles.
Videos emerged on TikTok and YouTube in summer 2021, when Milwaukee teenagers began posting videos demonstrating how to steal certain Hyundai and Kia models in under 90 seconds.
The videos went viral, accumulating millions of views.
Ellison says the automakers have agreed to a free hardware fix for all owners whose vehicles did not come equipped with an immobilizer he says more than 140,000 vehicles could be in need of the fix.
That fix could be available as soon at early 2026.