In 2022, Hyundai vehicles topped the list as the most stolen from corporate fleets and business operations, with the Santa Fe crossover accounting for a standout share among the stolen models. A study provided by AlfaStrakhovanie and shared with socialbites.ca highlights that Hyundai’s presence in theft statistics reached 33 percent, underscoring a troubling trend in vehicle security for commercial entities across markets where Hyundai operates, including Canada and the United States. The data signals that fleet managers and small business owners should take these findings seriously when considering risk management, insurance options, and theft-prevention investments.
Compared with earlier years, the leadership in the theft rankings shifted. In the 2019–2021 period, Kia and Toyota cars led the list, but by 2022 Hyundai took the top spot, illustrating how shifts in vehicle usage patterns influence illicit activity. The prevalence of Hyundai in taxi services, car-sharing platforms, and small-scale operations appears to have created a larger pool of target vehicles. Security measures that are easy to bypass or standard across many fleets can unintentionally create favorable conditions for thieves. As noted by Alexander Kharagezov, director at AlfaStrakhovanie, the insurance landscape shows a tendency toward higher payouts for certain heavy freight categories, suggesting a broader impact on risk assessments for commercial fleets.
The second most targeted brand in 2022 was Kia, implicated in approximately 12 percent of theft cases involving Russian entrepreneurs. Among the models most frequently taken were the Sorento, particularly the crossover variants, with other popular targets including Toyota at roughly 9 percent, Krone cranes at 9 percent, and both GAZ and KamAZ at about 6 percent each. This distribution points to a pattern where certain vehicle types and equipment—whether passenger cars or commercial machinery—draw the attention of thieves due to perceived value, ease of resale, and the existence of established secondary markets. For fleet operators in North America, these insights highlight the need for careful vehicle selection, enhanced immobilization, and robust fleet monitoring to reduce exposure to theft risks.
Industry observers, including Yang Heizeer, formerly Vice President of the National Automobile Association, have noted that the popularity of Korean-made vehicles in theft scenarios stems in part from demand in the secondary parts market. In practical terms for fleet managers and security teams in Canada and the United States, this translates into actionable steps: prioritize models with advanced anti-theft systems, implement real-time tracking solutions, and maintain rigorous inventory controls for fleet assets. By aligning insurance coverage with the actual risk profile of the fleet and investing in proven security technologies, businesses can mitigate losses and shorten recovery times after incidents. The overarching takeaway is clear: theft patterns evolve with vehicle usage, and proactive risk management remains essential for commercial operators seeking to protect their mobile assets across North American markets. [Source: AlfaStrakhovanie]