WASHINGTON (June 2, 2015) — Bipartisan members of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce have written to 17 auto makers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), asking how they plan to ensure vehicle cybersecurity.
In their May 28 letters, the committee members particularly wanted to know how the auto industry plans to address the security challenges presented by new technologies such as in-vehicle WiFi systems, infotainment systems and increased smartphone connectivity.
They also asked to know how auto makers and the federal government are working together to identify and resolve these potential security risks.
“While threats to vehicle technology currently appear isolated and disparate, as the technology becomes more prevalent, so too will the risks associated with it,” the committee members wrote.
“Threats and vulnerabilities in vehicle systems may be inevitable, but we cannot allow this to undermine the potential benefits of these technologies,” they said. “The industry and NHTSA have an opportunity to prepare for challenges that advanced vehicle technologies present and to develop strategies to mitigate the risks.”
The Automotive Service Association (ASA), which issued a press release about the Energy and Commerce letter, said it is very involved in assuring the security of vehicle technologies and telematics.
The ASA will host its second annual Technology & Telematics Forum July 23 in Detroit, during the annual NACE/CARS conference for the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) and the Congress of Automotive Repair & Service (CARS).