Panasonic develops connected car safety system to prevent cyberattacks

Japanese electronics company Panasonic Corp is developing security systems for automakers to prevent cyber attacks as more vehicles provide services over the internet.

(Image source: japantimes)

Panasonic said that its R&D team will install the system software on connected vehicles to detect abnormal conditions, and automakers can also use the system to monitor vehicles around the clock.

In late October, Panasonic demonstrated an example of a cyberattack and how it could be detected at a simulated monitoring center set up in Tokyo. When a demonstration car in Osaka was hit by an experimental remote attack, the steering wheel of the demonstration car quickly turned 180 degrees and an alarm was immediately sounded in the Tokyo monitoring area.

A senior Panasonic official said: "If the vehicle is controlled by a computer during driving, it is easy to cause a fatal accident, so abnormalities need to be detected as early as possible, and Panasonic can do this."

The R&D teams will work together to collect information and transform the car system. Panasonic said the software system can be updated remotely when necessary to prevent external attacks. Its monitoring center will be able to manage cars in Japan and abroad in a unified way.

Connected cars accounted for 34% of global passenger vehicle sales in 2019 and will grow steadily to 80% by 2035, according to research firm Fuji Keizai Group Co.

The Japanese government is also stepping up its countermeasures against cyberattacks. From July next year, all vehicles equipped with wirelessly updateable driving control systems must undergo inspections by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

The department said the evaluation criteria include whether automakers have a system to manage network security and provide corresponding software updates. Panasonic officials also revealed that Panasonic will work with IT companies to make the system an industry standard.