A class action lawsuit filed in the United States alleges Hyundai and Kia are sharing vehicle data, including trip reports and “hard braking” events, with insurance companies without owners’ consent.
Car The lawsuit was filed in California federal court by Mark Will, who claims that data about his driving behavior from December 2023 to April 2024 was shared with his insurance company, causing his insurance premiums to increase by $250.
The plaintiffs claim Hyundai and Kia violated the US Fair Credit Reporting Act with their connected car services, including UVO Connect, Kia Connect, Bluelink and Bluelink+.
He owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe with Bluelink.
These connected car services provide functions including remote vehicle location, vehicle starting and locking, and also provide vehicle diagnostics, roadside assistance and information useful for recovering stolen vehicles.
The lawsuit alleges that Hyundai and Kia collected large amounts of data, which was then sold to data broker Verisk Analytics. That broker then allegedly analyzed the risk of each driver and sold the information to auto insurance companies.
Since the class action was only recently filed, Mr. Will is said to need to be properly certified as he seeks to represent all individuals who own Hyundai and Kia vehicles that share driving information.
Hyundai and Kia are both part of the Hyundai Motor Group, meaning they share much of the technology and connected services.
This is not the first time an automaker has been accused of collecting driving data and selling it without customers’ consent.
Earlier this year, General Motors (GM) was accused of doing exactly that with its OnStar connected services brand, resulting in a Chevrolet Bolt owner paying significantly higher insurance renewal rates as a result of his LexisNexis driving report.
LexisNexis, a global data broker, has a Risk Solutions division that serves the insurance industry. Following Monday’s report, GM ended its partnerships with two major data brokers.
THAN: GM Cuts Ties With Data Collection Companies After Selling Driver Info
