22/05/2025
Smartphones on four wheels: cybersecurity and hacker threats at the International Aftermarket Meeting
Michele Maestroni
At the Futurmotive Auditorium, top international experts and the big names in the sector will take an in-depth look at a topic that is already changing the paradigm of the supply chain.
Not only PCs and smartphones. Cars too are affected by hacker attacks and cyber threats. And with an increasingly smart vehicle fleet, cybersecurity is a priority that can no longer be postponed. Outlining the state of the art, tools and regulation was the International Aftermarket Meeting in the Futurmotive Auditorium. Introduced by Andrea Debernardis of the National Association of the Automotive Industry (ANFIA) and Emanuele Vicentini of Autopromotec, the event hosted leading international experts on a topic that is changing the industry paradigm.
Software vehicles, in fact, are now a reality on roads all over the world. A growing diffusion to which, however, the aftermarket is called upon to provide assistance and maintenance. Especially since cyber threats are not limited to the use of the vehicle but can also involve other systems, from personal data to electronic payments: "Cars are increasingly telephones on wheels," explained Gianfranco Burzio, security and protection consultant at Drivesec. "The attack comes from abroad and not only through telematic networks: the hacker can act, for instance, also through the electric charging station, break into the payment software and steal money".
The scenario also involves Brussels. In fact, the European Commission is working on a law to balance the IT protection adopted by manufacturers with the need for independent repairers to access vehicle systems to carry out operations. The repercussions of the rules were the focus of the round table debate that brought on stage Kim Borsting of Hella Gutmann; Massimiliano Oliveri Del Castillo of Robert Bosch; Kris van der Plas of LKQ Europe; Alexander Matthey of Parloa and Nicola Morzenti of Roland Berger.
Martin Frommer of S&P Global Mobility gave a valuable speech, anticipating the outlook for the market over the next ten years: “In Europe we expect growth, not as significant as in China for example, but it will be constant,” he emphasised. "This will be an opportunity for the aftermarket, because estimates say that the number of older vehicles will also increase. For example in Western Europe they will increase from 3% today to 10%, while in Eastern Europe this is already a reality". According to the manager, by 2034 the number of vehicles on the road will approach two billion and big data will become an increasingly integral part of the supply chain.
Software vehicles, in fact, are now a reality on roads all over the world. A growing diffusion to which, however, the aftermarket is called upon to provide assistance and maintenance. Especially since cyber threats are not limited to the use of the vehicle but can also involve other systems, from personal data to electronic payments: "Cars are increasingly telephones on wheels," explained Gianfranco Burzio, security and protection consultant at Drivesec. "The attack comes from abroad and not only through telematic networks: the hacker can act, for instance, also through the electric charging station, break into the payment software and steal money".
The scenario also involves Brussels. In fact, the European Commission is working on a law to balance the IT protection adopted by manufacturers with the need for independent repairers to access vehicle systems to carry out operations. The repercussions of the rules were the focus of the round table debate that brought on stage Kim Borsting of Hella Gutmann; Massimiliano Oliveri Del Castillo of Robert Bosch; Kris van der Plas of LKQ Europe; Alexander Matthey of Parloa and Nicola Morzenti of Roland Berger.
Martin Frommer of S&P Global Mobility gave a valuable speech, anticipating the outlook for the market over the next ten years: “In Europe we expect growth, not as significant as in China for example, but it will be constant,” he emphasised. "This will be an opportunity for the aftermarket, because estimates say that the number of older vehicles will also increase. For example in Western Europe they will increase from 3% today to 10%, while in Eastern Europe this is already a reality". According to the manager, by 2034 the number of vehicles on the road will approach two billion and big data will become an increasingly integral part of the supply chain.
