Recently, Renault UK announced that hackers had infiltrated one of the company’s third-party data providers, resulting in the leak of some customer information. However, the company clarified that no financial data or passwords were compromised. The leaked information reportedly includes customer names, addresses, dates of birth, gender, phone numbers, vehicle identification numbers (VINs), and vehicle registration details.
A Renault spokesperson stated: “The third-party supplier has confirmed that this was an isolated incident that is now under control, and we are working closely with them to ensure all necessary measures are being taken. All relevant authorities have been notified.” Renault is also contacting affected customers and advising them to “remain cautious of any unsolicited requests for personal information.”
It is worth noting that data breaches involving car owners’ personal information are not uncommon. On September 23, Jaguar Land Rover announced that due to a cyberattack on August 31, its global operations shutdown that began on that date would be extended until October 1. The incident is estimated to have cost the company around £50 million per week.
Other automakers, including Toyota, Volkswagen, NIO, and Nissan, have also experienced large-scale customer data breaches. Last year, Nissan Australia reported that its systems had been hacked, potentially compromising the personal information of around 100,000 individuals. In May 2023, Toyota revealed that a cloud configuration error exposed data of nearly 2.15 million users in Japan, possibly including vehicle device IDs and location data.
As is widely recognized, information security remains a pressing concern. Data breaches not only impact vehicle owners but can also damage automakers’ reputations and trigger crises. Experts point out that the frequent leaks stem from many automakers’ lack of native data protection capabilities, leaving them unable to secure their massive digital assets amid digital transformation. It is recommended that automakers establish a new security framework integrating behavior and data, develop mechanisms to prevent insider leaks, and implement comprehensive controls over data storage, usage, and transmission to ensure the safety of information and data.
