Silk, who stated he just lately had 100 Kia and Hyundai autos backed up on his lot ready for repairs from break-ins, spent about three months working along with his shops’ technicians to develop an off-the-shelf Bluetooth immobilizer. He stated the machine stops the engine from beginning, even when the secret’s within the ignition, until the proprietor additionally has pressed a button on a distant management.

The proprietary machine, he stated, has introduced peace of thoughts to prospects whereas offering the service division with one other income stream. He costs $200 to put in the machine on the dealership and has made it accessible to different prospects on-line for $99, plus transport.

“It’ll cease the typical thief from stealing the automotive,” he advised Automotive Information. “Even when they rip off the machine, they’d must be a technician to rewire the whole lot.”

Representatives for Hyundai and Kia stated they haven’t studied or analyzed Silk’s machine, however they “proceed to evaluate and consider choices.”

Silk stated he and his workforce took an present product and specifically wired it.

No two Bluetooth gadgets are the identical, which means one management would not be capable to begin a number of vehicles.

He stated the expertise works on autos from many non-European manufacturers.

The checklist of Hyundai and Kia fashions prone to being stolen as a result of they do not have an immobilizer is lengthy.

Hyundai stated it consists of sure trim ranges of the Accent, Elantra, Elantra GT, Sonata, Veloster, Venue, Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Sport, Santa Fe XL and Palisade autos from the 2016-21 mannequin years. Kia stated any Kia car “constructed between 2011 and 2021 that makes use of a metal key” may very well be in danger.