Car Importer "Colmobil" Continues to Battle Major Cyberattack
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Israeli car importer "Colmobil" is still dealing with a major cyberattack that began on October 14, causing ongoing delays in its dealerships and service centers. The company is investigating the incident and working to resolve it, while assuring customers that operations continue with possible minor disruptions. The automotive sector has been on alert for cyber threats for years, with the Ministry of Transport recently issuing non-binding guidelines to improve defenses.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- "Colmobil" is still experiencing disruptions from a cyberattack that started on October 14.
- Some of "Colmobil's" dealerships, service centers, and parts departments have not fully resumed operations.
- The company is investigating the source of the cyber incident and has notified regulatory bodies.
- The Israeli automotive sector has been warned about cyber threats for the past two years.
- The Ministry of Transport recently issued non-binding cyber guidelines for car importers.
The Israeli car importer "Colmobil" is still grappling with a significant cyber incident that began on October 14. As of early this week, some of the company's computer systems at its dealerships nationwide, as well as its service and parts departments, have not fully returned to operation, leading to delays. "Colmobil," Israel's largest automotive group with billions in annual revenue, possesses advanced cyber defense capabilities, both in-house and outsourced.
The automotive sector in Israel received warnings about potential large-scale cyberattacks from the National Cyber Directorate two years ago, and importers have since faced ongoing attack attempts. Recently, the Ministry of Transport published comprehensive, non-binding cyber guidelines for car importers, covering the entire operational chain from workshops to organizational computers. These guidelines are recommendations, not mandates.
The Ministry of Transport's document relies heavily on two European regulations concerning vehicle cybersecurity during manufacturing and remote software updates. While most new cars with European approval sold after July 2024 are expected to meet these standards, many "smart" connected vehicles currently on Israeli roads do not. The Ministry's guidelines aim to address a gap in cyber defense for the import and maintenance chain, particularly during pre-delivery inspections and at service centers in Israel.
"Colmobil" stated that its technology team identified an information security incident and is investigating its source. The company, prepared for such events, has updated regulatory bodies and is working to resolve the issue promptly. Showrooms, customer service, service centers, and vehicle delivery operations continue, though some delays are possible.