BSI and VDA: Working together to improve cyber-security in cars

Digitization long ago arrived in modern cars, transport infrastructures and the companies in the automotive industry. The field of digitization is important to Germany as an economic and automotive location, and to make sure that it will be secure, the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) will cooperate closely on issues of cyber security. VDA President Hildegard Müller and BSI President Arne Schönbohm signed a joint declaration of intent to this effect in Berlin today.

BSI President Arne Schönbohm said, “Modern cars long ago evolved into high-performance computers on wheels, no longer driven solely by a crankshaft or an electric motor, but in large measure controlled by digital technology. If we want to apply digital technology to have autonomous cars, improve road safety, enhance the flow of traffic and reduce the consumption of energy and fuel, then unauthorized third-parties must not be able to tamper with this technology.”

VDA President Hildegard Müller added, “Cars ‘made in Germany’ have helped the German automotive industry to achieve its leading position around the world. With information security as a sign of the quality of digitization ‘made in Germany’ we can continue expanding this very good position on the international markets and at the same time improve Germany’s automotive digital security.”

The cooperation between the BSI and the VDA is aimed at establishing a common understanding of the various aspects of automotive cyber security and of information security in the vehicle industry, and to use this to identify the action that needs to be taken, for example in the area of standardization. This should be followed by joint recommendations for action to be addressed to policy-makers and the automotive industry.

Technologies such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and 5G should make driving safer and more comfortable. Digitization will enable new services and functions in vehicles. The risks must be addressed early in the development cycle for new vehicle models, so that potential cyber-attacks cannot affect safe driving and suitable protection mechanisms can be integrated.

Contacts:

Tim Griese, Press Officer
Federal Office for Information Security
Tel.: +49 228 999582-5777
E-mail: presse@bsi.bund.de

Eckehart Rotter, Head of Press Department
German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)
Tel.: +49 30 897842-120
E-mail: eckehart.rotter@vda.de