Summary:
- Software-defined vehicles have become increasingly prevalent in the automotive industry, offering benefits like remote updates and advanced features
- Software failures can pose significant risks, as seen in recent cases like WM Motor’s bankruptcy.
- Cybersecurity is a major concern, with incidents like the CrowdStrike outage highlighting the vulnerability of software-dependent systems
- Regulations and consumer protection are essential to address the challenges associated with software-defined vehicles.
- Industry collaboration is necessary to develop and implement solutions for ensuring software reliability and security
The automotive industry is experiencing a tectonic shift in which software has become increasingly pivotal in vehicle functionality. While these software-defined vehicles (SDVs) offer numerous benefits, such as remote updates and advanced features, they also introduce new risks. For example, in early September, Chinese automaker WM Motor filed for bankruptcy, leaving customers stranded with cars unable to receive essential software support. This indeed shows what can happen if the software underpinning these vehicles fails.
The WM Motor bankruptcy is not an isolated incident. A faulty update from CrowdStrike sent Windows computers crashing on July 19, affecting millions of systems. It’s considered one of the largest outages in IT history, showing how vulnerable software-driven systems can be. This event also served as a wake-up call for the electric vehicle (EV) industry, emphasizing the need for robust software security and redundancy. As the trend of heavily relying on software in vehicles increases, these challenges need to be overcome to ensure safe, reliable transportation in the times to come.
No Subscription? You’re missing out
Get immediate ad-free access to all our premium content.
Get Started
