Car-less Olympics, Kia’s Theft Fix Works, Workers Feeling Stuck

The Automotive Troublemaker w/ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier

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It’s a great Tuesday to sell some cars as we talk about LA’s announcement of a car-less Olympics (oh the irony). We also talk about the effectiveness of Kia’s fix for rampant thefts, as well as the large group of workers feeling stuck.

• Los Angeles, a city synonymous with car culture, is casting it’s vision for the 2028 Olympic Games to be a "no-car Games." Mayor Karen Bass has announced plans to rely on public transportation instead of private vehicles, challenging the city's deeply ingrained car dependency.
  • The city is advancing "Twenty-eight by '28," aiming to complete 28 transit projects by 2028, funded by voter-approved sales taxes.
  • Bass is urging local businesses to adopt remote work and flexible hours during the Games to help reduce traffic.
  • The plan includes bringing in 3,000 buses from around the country to bolster the city’s public transportation system.
  • Mayor Bass stated, "We’re already working to create jobs by expanding our public transportation system in order for us to have a no-car games."
    
• A recent study by the Highway Loss Data Institute revealed that the anti-theft software upgrade developed by Kia and Hyundai has been highly effective, reducing theft claim rates by 53% for eligible vehicles. This comes after a surge in thefts following viral videos showing how to hotwire certain models lacking immobilizers.
  • Kia and Hyundai vehicles from 2011-22 were targeted after a viral video exposed a security flaw.
  • The software upgrade, offered in February 2023, extends the alarm duration and requires the key to be in the ignition to start the vehicle.
  • Vehicles that received the upgrade showed a 64% drop in whole vehicle theft.
  • Both companies have distributed over a million upgrades and provided steering wheel locks for ineligible vehicles.
  • A $200 million settlement was reached for affected owners, though it has yet to be approved by the judge.
  • "We're encouraged that theft rates in key cities have fallen significantly as more vehicle owners and lessees receive the free software upgrade," said a Kia spokesperson.
    
• American workers are increasingly feeling "stuck" in their jobs as fears of a potential recession loom. This has led to a significant drop in the rate at which employees are quitting, despite widespread job dissatisfaction.
  • The quit rate in July 2024 fell to just 2.1%, the lowest since the pandemic began.
  • Google searches for "quitting job" are down 11% in the past year, while searches for "stuck at work" have risen 9%.
  • Online communities like the subreddit r/hatemyjob have seen membership double, reflecting growing frustration among workers.
  • Recession fears are rising, with Google searches for "recession" up 230% in the past month.
  • "I feel trapped here," said Amanda, a 24-year-old histology worker.

Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
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