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Growing Digitization Of Automotive Factories Put Cybersecurity At The Center Of Global Industrial Decisions. Recent Surveys Show That Digital Attacks Are Advancing Rapidly, Affect Whole Supply Chains And Have Already Caused Prolonged Vehicle Production Shutdowns.
Cyberattacks on factories, corporate systems, and supply chains have become the top concern for the global automotive industry, ahead of the traditional pressure for cost-cutting and the ongoing advance of automation.
In a survey released by ABB Robotics in collaboration with Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, 95% of participants rated cybersecurity as a significant issue for vehicle production in the next five years, focusing on North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific.
Within this group, 53% said the issue is “extremely significant”, while 31% rated it as “quite significant.”
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The result kept digital security in first place for the second consecutive year in the survey, in a scenario where increasingly connected factories expand exposure to failures, breaches, and operational disruptions.
Cost reduction came in just behind, also with 95% of responses in the relevant concern range, but with 52% at the “extremely significant” level.
In practice, the difference is narrow but symbolic: for the executives interviewed, efficiency and productivity remain central, but can no longer be treated separately from data protection, industrial networks, and production systems.
Digital Security Becomes Strategic Priority In The Automotive Industry
The shift in priority accompanies the transformation of the shop floor.
As automakers and suppliers expand the use of artificial intelligence, digital twins, simulation software, autonomous mobile robots, and supply chain management platforms, the attack surface for digital criminals also grows.
The survey itself shows an expectation of increased use of AI and generative AI, simulation, and digital tools over the next few years, reinforcing the direct link between industrial modernization and cyber risk.
This movement helps explain why cybersecurity has ceased to be a topic restricted to tech areas.
In highly synchronized automotive operations, an attack does not only affect emails or corporate servers.
It impacts production planning, logistics, quality control, communication with suppliers, and, in more severe cases, the very continuity of manufacturing.
Furthermore, the risk spreads throughout the entire chain.
As the sector depends on suppliers at different levels, a breach in Tier 1 or Tier 2 companies can cause supply delays, generate bottlenecks, and compromise the flow of parts on assembly lines.
In an industry where downtime often costs dearly, the vulnerability of one link can quickly turn into widespread losses.
Attack On Jaguar Land Rover Exposed Factory Vulnerabilities
The heightened perception of the problem is also supported by recent events.
One of the most cited examples in the sector involves Jaguar Land Rover, which was hit by a major cyberattack at the end of August 2025.
Subsequent reports indicated that the offensive compromised information technology systems and led to a prolonged production shutdown, impacting factories and suppliers.
Estimates released by specialized outlets pointed to nearly 40 days of global production suspension.
The incident has become a warning for the entire global automotive industry.
When an automaker halts its lines, the impact is not limited to the production schedule.
The shutdown affects deliveries, contracts, transportation of parts, inventory, and revenues across the entire production chain.
In large-scale operations, a prolonged interruption can lead to losses amounting to millions of dollars.
Cyberattacks Against The Automotive Sector More Than Doubled
The increase in concerns has gained momentum following new data from the automotive and smart mobility ecosystem.
A global automotive cybersecurity report released in 2026 indicated that threats against organizations in the sector more than doubled in 2025.
According to the survey, 44% of recorded incidents were ransomware attacks, a type of breach that locks systems and demands payment for data release.
The data indicates an environment of increasingly professionalized attacks.
The majority of identified cases originated remotely and involved digital infrastructures such as cloud services, telematics systems, and programming interfaces known as APIs.
At the same time, the expansion of so-called software-defined vehicles and connected platforms increased dependence on digital architecture throughout the automotive chain.
Costs, Energy, And Labor Are Still Pressuring The Sector
While digital security has taken center stage, it does not appear in isolation among the challenges faced by the industry.
Executives surveyed also pointed to energy and material costs, scarcity of qualified labor, and trade tariffs among the main concerns for the coming years.
The results reveal a sector pressured by economic and operational factors at the same time.
Still, there is a growing perception that productivity and industrial efficiency increasingly depend on digital resilience and protection against cyber disruptions.
This scenario is likely to strengthen partnerships between automakers, suppliers, and technology companies specialized in automation and digital security.
Throughout the digital transformation of the automotive industry, the protection of operations has come to be seen not only as technological support but as an essential condition for keeping factories running without interruptions.
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