The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is now the most stolen car in the U.S., according to a new Highway Loss Data Institute report. Teslas, on the other hand, are among the least stolen.
The institute’s research, released Thursday, looked at the theft rates for the 2022 to 2024 model years for various makes of cars, with a theft claim frequency of 100 considered the average.
The Camaro ZL1, a souped-up version of the normal Camaro, was stolen at a rate more than 39 times the average, while the regular Camaro, the third-most stolen car, had theft claims made at almost 13 times the average.
“Muscle cars have often topped this list, as thieves are attracted to vehicles with high horsepower. That also helps explain why the more expensive, more powerful ZL1 is stolen so much more often than the standard Camaro,” said Matt Moore, the institute’s chief insurance operations officer.
General Motors, maker of Chevrolet cars, issued a software update in March aimed at tackling thefts.
“This body control module software enhancement involves an important security update for certain model year 2020 to 2024 Chevrolet Camaros. GM counters vehicle theft methods as they evolve. We regularly work with law enforcement agencies to identify emerging tactics that may affect our products and make updates as needed to defend against them,” a company spokesperson told the website GM Authority.
The theft claim frequency rate for Hyundai and Kia cars following a similar software update was 46% lower than before, the institute said.
The second-most stolen car was the Acura TLX with four-wheel drive, with a claim frequency rate of more than 21 times the average, the Highway Loss Data Institute said. The two-wheel drive variant was the fifth-most stolen car at over eight times the average.
Electric models are among the least-stolen cars.
The Tesla Model 3 with four-wheel drive had a theft claim frequency one-hundredth of the average. Its two-wheel drive equivalent was stolen at a rate one-fiftieth of the average, tied with the four-wheel drive version of the Tesla Model Y.
The Tesla Model S with four-wheel drive and the hybrid Toyota RAV4 Prime with four-wheel drive were stolen at a rate one-twentieth of the average.
“Based on the fact that many of these are connected vehicles, just having one of these stolen electric vehicles is not an easy thing; it’s a high-risk proposition. In addition, they need to be charged on a regular basis, so many of their owners likely have garages,” Mr. Moore told CBS News.
