How cyberattacks disrupt the auto supply chain

A supplier to Toyota became the latest auto industry target of a cyberattack, which forced the automaker to halt all production in Japan. The supplier, Kojima Industries, provides plastic parts and electronic components.

In December, Volvo was the target of a cyberattack hitting its R&D data. The automaker said a limited amount of R&D data was stolen but it did not see an impact on the security of its customers' cars or their personal data.

In October Eberspaecher, a German supplier of automotive exhaust and thermal management systems, saw its IT infrastructure affected by a cyberattack.

Now EV charging stations are emerging as a target for hackers.High-profile incidents of hacked charging stations around the world have spotlighted the vulnerabilities.

Cyberattacks can impact operations

The attack at Eberspaecher led to an emergency short-time work schedule at the company's headquarters in Esslingen, Germany. Production was also halted at many of the supplier's factories, including its large plant in Neunkirchen, Germany, where employees stood in front of closed doors, Automotive News sister publication Automobilwoche reported.

Past cyberattacks in the auto industry have led to automaker factories shutting down.

Honda last year suffered a crippling attack on its global computer network. Some plants, including in North America, were forced to temporarily suspend output because of a loss of computer connectivity.

In 2017, Honda was hit by the global WannaCry ransomware attack that affected production at a Japanese assembly plant, according to Reuters. That attack also affected Renault and Nissan operations in Japan, Europe and India, the news agency said.

How well is the industry prepared?

Almost half of 100 automotive manufacturers and more than 17 percent of automotive suppliers surveyed by cybersecurity ratings provider Black Kite are at high risk for a ransomware attack, according to a report released this summer.

How do cyberattacks work?

If left unchecked, cyberattackers can infiltrate unsecured corporate IT systems and install malware, restricting companies' access to crucial data and holding it for ransom. Black Kite said more attacks could exacerbate current industry headwinds, such as the ongoing chip shortage and other supply chain woes.

The attacks aren't limited to manufacturers

Three EV charging points on the Isle of Wight in England were hacked to show pornography on their screens, according to a report last month by BBC News.

In February, EV charging stations along a major highway between Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia were disabled by hackers protesting the country's invasion of Ukraine. The chargers' screens reportedly displayed a vulgar insult directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, among other pro-Ukraine and anti-Russia messages.

Last year Braman dealerships in Florida experienced a system outage that affected operations. Local media reports said it might have been linked to ransomware. In November Authenticom, a data integration service provider that works with dealerships, worked to restore systems it took offline in response to what may have been a ransomware attack.