If you look down at your phone to check out an Instagram reel and crash your Chevy Bolt into the Golden Gate Bridge, do not expect General Motors to claim any responsibility for any part of it or help you out at all. You own the car, you broke it, that’s on you. But all the data generated during that accident? Car companies might think they’re entitled to that.
Few people, according to a new study, are happy about this. New cars can generate huge amounts of data, but what gets done with that data is poorly understood and, potentially, a huge gold mine for automakers. Will they share said gold with you? Maybe not.
Speaking of data, CDK Global is getting its back after a ransomware attack and the ransomers have reportedly been identified.
Much of your Autopian crew is headed to Goodwood for the Festival of Speed this year, and it’ll be interesting to see which Stellantis brands are on display since the UK Stellantis boss is warning the government there it might end production on the island nation.
And, finally, Ford is recalling more than half a million F-150s sold in 2014 due to faulty transmissions.
If Data Is The New Gold, You’re Driving Around In Scrooge McDuck’s Pool
My 2003 BMW E39, while an advanced car at the time, doesn’t feel so advanced compared to the new PHEV BMW X5 I’m driving this week. The X5 could probably be classified as a “connected car” and, while I’m not sure it’s generating the 25 gigs of data an hour like some vehicles, it’s loaded with sensors.
Mostly, these sensors are helpful. One of the external cameras on the car smartly pointed out a parking sign that sneakily sprouts out of a patch of asphalt where I park. I’m quite familiar with this sign and have yet to hit it, but seeing it highlighted in red on the screen would be helpful to someone new to this parking lot.
Who owns this data? Since I’m just borrowing this car, it’s definitely BMW. If I owned the car? That’s a different question.
This came up earlier this year when it was discovered that General Motors (and Honda and Hyundai) was sharing data about customer driving behavior with intermediary companies that, unsurprisingly, shared it with insurance companies (which allegedly raised rates).
GM backed off sharing that data, but it was a reminder that car companies do have your data and will share it if you don’t specifically ask them not to do that. Tesla is probably the most interesting case here as the company has admitted it needs tons of data to power its AI-backed self-driving system, though I don’t think most Tesla customers are surprised about this. In this case, at least, there’s a tangible benefit to sharing data as it theoretically helps make all cars (and thus your car) better.
A new survey by the insurance app Jerry found that essentially all drivers think they should own their own car’s data. From Automotive News:
The survey, which polled 1,300 adults who own or lease vehicles and who drive at least once a week, found that 96 percent of people said they should own any and all data generated from their car, and that 78 percent of drivers are uncomfortable or extremely uncomfortable with automakers even collecting driver data in the first place.
The findings suggest a difficult road ahead for manufacturers, insurance companies and other data brokers that have been banking on a veritable laundry list of uses for consumer data. Automakers and other stakeholders paint a picture of a future replete with customized vehicle settings for different drivers, personalized subscription offerings pitched directly through the central infotainment center, smart R&D enhanced by utilization rates of certain features and more.
This goes back to the subscription services issue. Automakers want you to buy their cars, but they also want you to constantly pay them for the right to use it. The holy grail of the automotive bean counters is a car that never stops generating income.
Group Behind CDK Ransomware Attack Identified
Yesterday, we shared that the CDK Global hack was actually a ransomware attack and that CDK was going to pony up “tens of millions of dollars,” but not to whom. Now we probably know the whom.
A hacking group called BlackSuit is behind the cyberattack on CDK Global that’s paralyzed car sales across the US, according to Allan Liska, a threat analyst at the security firm Recorded Future Inc.
The cybercrime group has demanded an extortion fee in the tens of millions of dollars from CDK, which plans to make the payment, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. CDK’s name was not listed Monday on the website where BlackSuit names its extortion victims, a possible indication that the company is still in negotiations with the group or has paid a ransom, said Liska, who specializes in ransomware investigations and has been in discussions with those involved in the CDK case.
CDK is bringing systems back online, which also indicates that something (like a payment) has happened.
‘In The UK There Will Be Consequences’ Warns Yet Another Stellantis Exec Wanting To Throw Hands With The Government
It’s like Stellantis execs all went to the Mickey Spillane School Of Business. I grew up in Texas and rarely have I seen so much beef. Whether it’s fighting with suppliers or constantly bickering with the Italian government, the company is always trying to play hardball.
This week’s dust-up comes courtesy of UK Stellantis chief Maria Grazia Davino, who had this warning for the United Kingdom, whose current government might not last two more weeks:
“In the UK there will be consequences (of the mandates) for sure,” Grazia Davino said. “Stellantis UK does not stop, but Stellantis production in the UK could stop.”
This comes courtesy of Reuters via Yahoo Finance and was from a press conference at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) in London. Davino is cranky about the UK ruling that 22% of new cars need to be EVs, with Davino saying that “demand is not there.”
To clarify, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to keep making electric vans in England, as the company does, she just wants to get paid more in incentives by the government. If the government doesn’t bend, Stellantis might just import fewer gas-powered models in order to juke the percentage in the company’s favor and stop producing cars in the UK altogether.
I don’t think this will sway the big UK election on July 4th, but Stellantis is clearly out here posturing.
Ford Recalling 552,188 Ford F-150s Over Weird Shifting
Ford said it prevented about 12 recalls by slowing the rollout of its newest F-150, which is something the company probably should have done in 2014. The latest (of seven) recalls for the 2014 F-150 is all about shifting.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 F-150 vehicles. A loss of signal between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
That’s not great [Ed Note: Actually, that’s more than just not great; that’s absolutely terrible and dangerous and my god can you imagine that happening on the highway? Goodbye motor! Possibly goodbye control over your truck! -DT], but the solution is apparently a free software update (no OTA for these trucks so you’ll have to go to the dealer if you have a recalled truck).
What I’m Listening To While Writing TMD
I, for one, listened to a lot of Rage Against the Machine growing up because, you know, how do you top Tom Morello? Dude shreds. So. Much. Fun.
The Big Question
Where’s the most embarrassing place you drive with your car?
The post Study Shows 96% Of Drivers Want To Own Their Car’s Data Which… LOL appeared first on The Autopian.
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