[paxswill]

Because their cars lacked an immobilizer, which most other manufacturers have included as standard for a long time (and Kia and Hyundai only stopped using them recently). Some countries require them in new cars as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immobiliser and linked from there https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Challenge

[rasz]

Would I get sued if I made cars without cupholders and tiktok started trending "lets accelerate and brake with a cup of hot coffee in our lap" challenge? After all "cupholders are standard for a long time".

[colejohnson66]

That’s entirely the user’s fault if that happens. Immobilizers are about preventing theft that the user can’t control.

[rasz]

Was user forced to buy car without immobilizer?

[creatornator]

A user might not know to look for that sort of thing. That's why we rely on regulators, safety standards, etc.

I didn't even know what "immobilizer" meant in this context before hearing about the issue with Kia and Hyundai a while ago.