Michael Cirillo on the Toronto Auto Show, EV Charger Cyberattacks, Apple’s $500B Investment

‍Show Notes with links:

• Cyberattacks on automotive and smart mobility products surged 39% in 2024, with electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure emerging as a major target, according to Upstream’s 2025 Automotive & Smart Mobility Global Cybersecurity Report.
  
  • 409 cyberattacks were recorded in 2024, up from 295 in 2023. Attacks on EV charging stations jumped from 4% in 2023 to 6% in 2024.
  • Hackers target EV chargers for data theft, fraud, and ransom payments, with nearly 75% of attacks disrupting charging services. Researchers have also demonstrated that hacking EV chargers could disrupt entire grids.
  • In 2024, 59% of EV charging cyberattacks had the potential to impact millions of devices, while 37% could have affected thousands, according to Upstream.
  • Mozilla’s 2023 research found all 25 major automakers collected excessive data, raising privacy concerns.
  • Shira Sarid-Hausirer, Upstream VP of Marketing: “It’s not necessarily the number of assets, it’s the connectivity and the fact that they’re all interconnected that increases the risk dramatically.”

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• Apple is expanding its U.S. footprint with a $500 billion U.S. investment plan, which includes 20,000 new jobs, a server factory in Texas to support Apple Intelligence and a new Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit.
  
  • Company engineers at the Detroit center will train local businesses and workers in AI and smart manufacturing techniques.
  • Apple is also doubling its Advanced Manufacturing Fund to $10 billion, supporting high-tech manufacturing across the U.S.
  • Apple's announcement followed a meeting between CEO Tim Cook and President Donald Trump as the company seeks to mitigate the impact of Trump’s trade tariffs, including a 10% tariff on Chinese imports and a potential 25% tariff on chips.
  • CEO Tim Cook: "We are bullish on the future of American innovation and proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments."

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