Michael Cirillo on the Toronto Auto Show, EV Charger Cyberattacks, Apple’s $500B Investment

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Today we’ve got guest host Michael Cirillo of the Dealer Playbook talking about his experiences at the Toronto Auto Show. Plus, we talk about a new report showing EV charger cyberattacks are on the rise and how Apple is investing $500B in AI with a specific focus in Detroit.

Show Notes with links:

• Cyberattacks on automotive and smart mobility products surged 39% in 2024, with electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure emerging as a major target, according to Upstream’s 2025 Automotive & Smart Mobility Global Cybersecurity Report.
  • 409 cyberattacks were recorded in 2024, up from 295 in 2023.
  • Attacks on EV charging stations jumped from 4% in 2023 to 6% in 2024, with 59% of them having the potential to affect millions of devices.
  • Hackers target EV chargers for data theft, fraud, and ransom payments, with nearly 75% of attacks disrupting charging services. Researchers have also demonstrated that hacking EV chargers could disrupt entire grids.
  • In 2024, 59% of EV charging cyberattacks had the potential to impact millions of devices, while 37% could have affected thousands, according to Upstream.
  • Mozilla’s 2023 research found all 25 major automakers collected excessive data, raising privacy concerns.
  • Shira Sarid-Hausirer, Upstream VP of Marketing: “It’s not necessarily the number of assets, it’s the connectivity and the fact that they’re all interconnected that increases the risk dramatically.”

• Apple is expanding its U.S. footprint with a $500 billion U.S. investment plan, which includes 20,000 new jobs, a server factory in Texas to support Apple Intelligence and a new Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit.
  • Company engineers at the Detroit center will train local businesses and workers in AI and smart manufacturing techniques.
  • Apple is also doubling its Advanced Manufacturing Fund to $10 billion, supporting high-tech manufacturing across the U.S.
  • Apple's announcement followed a meeting between CEO Tim Cook and President Donald Trump as the company seeks to mitigate the impact of Trump’s trade tariffs, including a 10% tariff on Chinese imports and a potential 25% tariff on chips.
  • CEO Tim Cook: "We are bullish on the future of American innovation and proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments."

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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