## The Vulnerability of Connected Cars: A Looming Crisis
### The Price of Convenience
For over a decade, connected cars have captivated car buyers with their seamless software updates and convenient features reminiscent of smartphones. However, this convenience comes at a cost. As the Chinese auto industry consolidates, leaving many connected cars unsupported, there is a growing concern that American car owners could face a similar fate.
### The Chinese Auto Industry’s Extinction Event
The recent phenomenon was documented in Rest of World, which interviewed multiple owners of electric vehicles (EVs) produced by financially troubled Chinese automakers. China’s aggressive subsidies attracted numerous companies to produce cars, resulting in a thriving EV industry. However, when these subsidies ceased, over 20 brands were forced to shut down, leaving countless owners of connected cars in a dire situation.
### Stranded without Support
Imagine purchasing a connected car only to find out that the brand has gone out of business, rendering your vehicle unsupported. This is precisely the predicament faced by many owners of EVs from failed Chinese automakers. One notable example is WM Motor, which filed for bankruptcy in October 2023. With the company servers offline, widespread failures were reported, affecting crucial functions such as stereos, charging status indicators, odometers, and app-controlled remote features like air conditioning and locking.
### A Lack of Software Updates
Although WM Motor managed to bring its servers back online, it has not provided any software updates since its bankruptcy filing almost a year ago. Additionally, its app remains unavailable on smartphone app stores, limiting potential buyers of used WM Motors vehicles from accessing certain features. While China’s consumer protection laws mandate 10 years of parts and service support, software support seems to be excluded. As a result, an estimated 160,000 Chinese car owners find themselves in a similar predicament as more automakers encounter financial difficulties.
### Similar Challenges in the United States
While the situation in China is more extensive due to the prominence of tech features in cars, the vulnerability of connected cars is not unique to the Chinese market. In the United States, Tesla experienced an outage in 2021 that left some owners locked out of their vehicles and unable to charge. More recently, Fisker’s bankruptcy left Ocean SUV owners with unresolved software issues and uncertainty about fixes. Although these cases may be relatively isolated, they serve as a warning for the potential risks associated with connected cars.
### Prevention over Cure
It is crucial for car owners and manufacturers alike to address the vulnerability of connected cars before it evolves into a full-blown crisis. Learning from the Chinese auto industry’s challenges, proactive measures must be taken to ensure ongoing support for connected vehicles. This includes implementing regulations that safeguard consumers’ interests and encourage automakers to prioritize long-term software updates and maintenance.
In conclusion, the convenience of connected cars should not overshadow the potential risks they pose. As the Chinese auto industry experiences an extinction event, with numerous brands shutting down and leaving customers stranded, it is essential for the American market to learn from these lessons. By prioritizing ongoing support, software updates, and consumer protection, the vulnerability of connected cars can be mitigated, ensuring a safer and more reliable driving experience for all.