Recall Rodeo, Polestar Pitched, Deepfake Millions

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The ASOTU Crew is back in the saddle after an inspiring week at NADA. Today we’re talking about the variety of recalls across multiple manufacturers. We’re also covering Hertz’s parting of ways with Polestar, as well as an impressive and sobering deepfake scam

Recalls are everywhere in the news from tailgates that may pop open on the road to airbag anomalies and tiny-font safety warnings, as GM, Honda, and Tesla announce significant recalls affecting millions.

• GM announced recalls for 323,232 vehicles, including Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra models, due to tailgates that could unexpectedly open, posing a road hazard.
• Honda is recalling over 750,000 vehicles in the U.S. for airbags that may deploy unintentionally, covering models like the Pilot, Accord, Civic, CR-V, and Passport.
• Tesla's largest recall to date affects about 2.19 million vehicles for warning lights with font sizes too small, risking crash due to unclear safety information. Over-the-air fixes are planned.
  • GM will repair or replace the tailgate mechanisms on certain Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra models to prevent them from unexpectedly opening.
  • Tesla is issuing an over-the-air software update to adjust the font size of warning lights on the instrument panel for better visibility and compliance with safety standards.

Amid a broader EV market downturn, Hertz is reevaluating its electric ambitions, pausing a significant acquisition of Polestar vehicles due to soaring repair costs and market uncertainties.

• Hertz is halting its plan to purchase 65,000 electric vehicles from Polestar, reflecting the changing dynamics of the EV market.
• Polestar, facing its own hurdles, adjusts to Hertz's decision amidst a pause in Volvo's financial support and missed delivery targets for 2023.

In a sophisticated scam a finance professional from a multinational firm was  duped into transferring $25 million through an elaborate scam, with the scammers using an impressive array of deepfake technology 

• The scam involved a fake video call where criminals closely mimicked the appearance and voices of company staff, effectively lowering the employee's suspicions.
• Initially the victim received an email from the firm’s CFO and was suspicious until he was invited to a video call with several of his colleagues prior to him making the transfer. 
• The fraud was discovered when the employee finally spoke to the real CFO 

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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