India’s automobile sector is undergoing a major technological shift, and while manufacturers are continuously improving production processes, the industry remains ill-prepared to tackle cybersecurity threats, Reji Mathai, director of Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), informed.

“This area has largely remained untouched. Companies have always faced certain attacks on their processes, but the situation is now becoming more critical for us. This is one area we need to work on and think about how to take it forward,” Mathai said on Thursday in Pune while speaking at a conference organised by the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA).

The ARAI director cited a recent incident in which the battery power supply to an e-rickshaw was remotely disabled through a mobile application. “This came as a shock to many people. Everybody woke up and asked what was happening and why there were no security measures in place,” he said.

Mathai cautioned the industry against knee-jerk reactions to such incidents and instead urged it to develop long-term solutions, warning that cybersecurity challenges will only intensify as vehicles become increasingly connected. He also noted that cybersecurity regulations under Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 190 are set to be implemented from 2029 and stressed that the industry should begin preparations well in advance, rather than merely meeting the minimum compliance requirements.

To achieve this, he said, the Indian automobile sector needs a centralised security operations centre to monitor and respond to cyber threats. Globally, many countries have entrusted cybersecurity responsibilities to their automobile manufacturers. While the government has taken steps to protect critical national assets in several sectors, the mobility industry has yet to receive similar attention.

“We have to look into it and work together so that this area is also fortified. Otherwise, we will continue to grow while remaining vulnerable to attacks and disruptions that can result in significant losses,” he said.

Mathai said India is lagging in developing engineering solutions for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), many of which rely heavily on software and electronic controllers.

“Over the next two years, software-defined vehicles (SDVs) will take centre stage. That is where the biggest challenge lies. The gap is significant, and when we look at the availability of a skilled workforce for SDVs and even cybersecurity, we are struggling to find qualified people,” he said.

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