Auto Industry News: Vintage Rides Hit Rodeo Drive, Ford Maverick Racks Up Reservations, and VW’s Breach Reveals Some Glaring Truths About Data Privacy
Ford Maverick reservations are pouring in, proving little trucks still have big appeal. VW makes an interesting announcement about its own compact hauler — amid its recent mea culpa for accidentally compromising the private data of 3.3 million people. (Whoops.) Learn more about the data breach mishap below, and how automakers are responding to current cyber attacks. Most importantly, learn what YOU can do to protect your personal information in the digital age.
But first — Concours events are picking up steam across the country. Last week, California dads received a special treat, as the Beverly Hills Tour d’Elegance hit Rodeo Drive. Check out our recap below!
Go-fast entertainment more your speed? Head over to our July edition of Competition Corner for a rundown of summer events.
Beverly Hills Tour d’Elegance Treats Dads to Vintage Metal
Out in California, things moved at a slightly more relaxed pace during Father’s Day weekend with a celebration of cars from days gone by. The Beverly Hills Tour d’Elegance showcased a mix of collectible and exotic vehicles with a parade down the famed Rodeo Drive.
The inaugural event boasted a hefty list of icons like a 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom, a McLaren 12C, George Barris’ 1966 Batmobile from the classic TV series – and of course, Hollywood’s #1 collectible car fanatic himself, Jay Leno. Benefiting the Beverly Hills Police Officers Association and the Beverly Hills Firefighters’ Association, the parade also served to celebrate the city’s reopening. (California lifted its remaining COVID-related mandates on June 15.)
The parade came together after the cancellation of last year’s Rodeo Drive Concours. Co-founder Bruce Meyer explained the goal of this year’s event was to “carry on the tradition of a Father’s Day car spectacle without drawing crowds to a central location,” and allow enthusiasts to watch the show all around the city from different vantage points. Judging by the positive response and overall turnout, all signs point to the fanfare being an annual event!
The event’s success is good news to Pebble Beach Concours organizers.
The annual high-rolling, bucket-list event was scrapped last year due to COVID, costing a whopping $2 million-plus in losses from ticket sales and sponsorships. While organizers say the “world’s premier celebration of the automobile” is back on this year for August 15, automaker participation remains lukewarm. According to Automotive News, preeminent marques with historical presence at the event – like Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Porsche, McLaren, and Lamborghini – all intend to pull back their party-going efforts this year. Still, the event’s website highlights some exciting must-sees like the Porsche 917, the car featured in the Steve McQueen film Le Mans, and the Lamborghini Countach LP500, which celebrates its 50th anniversary.
In yet more Concours news, classic car insurer Hagerty just added to its growing list of international shows by purchasing the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Held each March on Amelia Island off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, the must-see event aims to infuse a little motorsports appreciation into the “staid world of the concours,” writes the Detroit Bureau. Click here to read more about the acquisition.
Volkswagen Data Breach Gets Worse, More Concern for Customers?
Data and privacy protection continue to dominate headlines – and that includes the auto world. Volkswagen specifically has seen some significant problems in the past few weeks. One of the automaker’s vendors suffered a significant data breach that impacted more than 3 million North American customers and potential buyers. Most of them were Audi customers.
While most people only saw “limited personal information” compromised, the automaker admitted nearly 90,000 buyers had more sensitive data exposed, such as purchase eligibility and driver’s license numbers.
Things got worse the week of June 14, when hackers put that info up for sale on a car hacking forum. The data includes names, emails, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and VINs. There’s no indication that VW is negotiating with the hackers. Still, the price tag on the stolen info is going for an estimated $4,000-$5,000.
VW said it’s providing free credit protection services for the 90,000 customers mentioned above. But that number seems to pale in comparison to how many more users are at risk. It’s also concerning that VW notified customers more than a week after Reuters broke the news and, roughly three months after the actual incident.
So, what can YOU do?
The data privacy issue with cars is complicated, since it falls into two main categories: data privacy inside the car and data privacy online.
For example, drivers should keep an eye on the data they exchange with in-car systems like in-dash GPS and Bluetooth apps that store information like phone numbers and addresses. To protect themselves, drivers can take an extra step to delete this info when they’re not using the vehicle. For drivers interested in covering all bases, NADA released a 2017 guide called “Personal Data in Your Car,” which paints a detailed picture of the type of data consumers share every time they turn on their Bluetooth or fire up SiriusXM.
When it comes to online privacy, common-sense practices still come in handy. That includes techniques like using complex passwords, two-step authentication, antivirus software, and keeping an eye on your credit card bill for strange charges. Consumers can also take protection to a much more extreme level if they’re concerned. With technology like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for surfing the web and browser extensions to block shifty websites, they can lock things down considerably.
As for those who are selling and making the vehicles…
Dealers are being encouraged to educate themselves to the online threats facing their businesses on a daily basis. Moreover, industry voices like Automotive News are stressing the importance of preparing data defenses with “no less attention than they pay to their cash flow or inventory.” Treating personal information the same as cash might seem like a strange idea, but it’s not a bad thought – and one that is likely to resonate with business owners.
Automakers’ approach to the problem varies, from “looking into the problem” to “waiting for federal guidance.” Some manufacturers have taken initiative, hiring engineers specifically to combat the issue. Kevin Tierney, General Motors’ vice president for global cybersecurity, told the New York Times in March that data protection is a top priority. The company had 90 engineers removing unnecessary software and tweaking vehicle systems to only communicate with each other when necessary. Auto electronics supplier Continental said it was also refining an “intrusion detection and prevention” system to ward off attacks.
These tactics move in the right direction, but they are more focused on software and data security inside cars. As JDSupra reported late last year: to conduct business in our continually connected world, auto companies need guidance and regulation. Many are looking to one of the world’s strictest regulatory privacy regimes — the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) — as a template on which to build their own policies.
Unfortunately, right now in the U.S., security standards for connected cars are not truly mandatory. And until cybersecurity becomes a top priority for the top people – creating a roadmap for automakers and dealers to follow – the burden of data protection falls largely on consumer shoulders.
Compact Pickup Segment May Gain An EV
VW might have its hands full with data protection concerns, but it’s also pondering an eventual return to the truck market…
The company hasn’t had a compact pickup on the American market since its short-lived Rabbit, which launched a little over 40 years ago. The front-wheel-drive truck screamed “1970s” in every sense of the word with funky interior colors and a faux woodgrain dash.
Last week, Duncan Movassaghi, executive vice president, sales and marketing at Volkswagen of America, told Automotive News that getting into the compact truck market “would not make sense” right now, as it is a “niche” segment. He said the automaker remains focused on keeping its current lineup of ICE-engine-based autos competitive, but ultimately looks to expand BEV offerings. However, Movassaghi did say an electric pickup “could for sure be an option.”
The company does have plans for a next-gen release of its mid-sized Amarok pickup. Right now, it’s only slotted for a 2022 European release, though Car Buzz reported in May that the automaker filed a trademark application for “Amarok” in the United States. VW’s pickup will be produced at Ford’s plant in South Africa, part of major agreements the two automakers signed last summer.
Speaking of Ford…
Ford Maverick Racks Up Reservations
For now, it looks like Ford and Hyundai are the main contenders for 2022 compact pickups. Hyundai kicked off production on its 2022 Santa Cruz compact pickup truck last week and said it expects the truck to hit dealerships in a few months. The Santa Cruz offers two engine options– a standard 2.5 liter or an optional turbocharged 2.5-liter turbocharged I-4 and a handful of trim choices.
Ford, meanwhile, is off to the races with the 2022 Maverick. Unveiled earlier this month via booming social media campaign and in-depth videos, the Maverick leverages its more accessible size and sleek modern design to target people who may not usually be interested in the pickup market. Plus, it features a high-profile celebrity-backed ad campaign with actor Gabrielle Union.
The compact truck, which features a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder standard hybrid engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT), has already caught the attention of plenty of buyers. Ford says it received 36,000 reservations within the first week of announcing the launch. Even though a reservation doesn’t directly translate into a sale, those numbers help make the case that there’s an interest in compact pickups even as the country shakes out the cobwebs from the pandemic’s stagnation.
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