Our individual mobility is currently undergoing rapid changes. In addition to alternative drive energies such as electricity and hydrogen, data, algorithms and networking are increasingly finding their way into modern vehicles. However, this development, which is positive in itself, also brings with it new concerns and dangers. For example, the aforementioned factors must be reliably protected against theft, misuse and attempts at extortion. This is the only way to create the necessary trust among users in the new technologies - and the only way that data, algorithms and networking can make a productive contribution to securely networked mobility.

Currently, the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) considers newly registered vehicles to have a sufficient level of cybersecurity. At the same time, as the federal government's cybersecurity authority, it is actively working with its partners from institutions, science and industry in national and international regulatory and standardization projects to secure vehicles sustainably, also with regard to future technologies. However, this would require further efforts and coordinated action along the supply chain. This is the core statement of the "Automotive industry situation report - Cyber security in the automotive industry 2022/2023", which the BSI recently presented in Munich.

"The future of mobility as a whole depends to a large extent on cyber security," explains Arndt von Twickel, head of the "Cyber Security for Intelligent Transport Systems and Industry 4.0" unit at the BSI. "End-to-end digitalization in electromobility, networking and automation opens up new opportunities for the industry, but also poses challenges. If vehicles are equipped with complex IT hardware and software and are online throughout, then they are also vulnerable to cyberattacks. Cybersecurity makes the industry more resilient and provides greater consumer confidence."

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