Automotive
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/newspaper.png)
CDK cyberattack cripples auto dealerships, slows sales
Written by Laura Miller
June 25, 2024
A cyberattack on CDK Global has shut down the systems at automotive dealerships and slowed down sales across the US.
CDK provides data and technology to the automotive, heavy truck, and heavy equipment industries. Its integrated software platforms are used at dealerships for all parts of the business, including sales, financing, parts supply, repair, and maintenance.
The company was hit with a series of cyberattacks from an unknown source beginning on Wednesday, June 19. The attacks crippled its software systems at some 15,000 dealerships, according to reports.
The dealerships have been forced to use alternative measures to keep business going, including reverting to the old ‘pen and paper.’ This has slowed down business and sales considerably.
According to an Automotive News report, CDK told dealerships the outages would likely last through at least the end of the month.
As one Reddit user who works in the parts department at a US dealership explained, “CDK Global is the brains of a car dealership. Literally everything we do is controlled by this software.” According to him, “The CDK outage is a lot bigger than people realize.”
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/SMU_LM_headshot.png.jpg-150x150.png)
Laura Miller
Read more from Laura MillerLatest in Automotive
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/CSPA_Canada.png)
CSPA cheers Canada decision to investigate Chinese EVs
The Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) has lauded Canada’s decision to launch an investigation into China’s unfair trade practices in electric vehicles (EVs). However, the association hopes the government will go even further and extend the investigation into other sectors.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/Premium1.png)
North American auto assemblies reach a nine-month high
North American auto assemblies ticked higher in May, moving up for the second straight month and reaching a nine-month high, according to LMC Automotive data. While assemblies were up month on month (m/m), they are still 1.7% lower year on year (y/y).
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/Premium1.png)
US light-vehicle sales surprise, increase in May
US light-vehicle (LV) sales rose to an unadjusted 1.43 million units in May, up 4.8% vs. year-ago levels, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported. The year-on-year (y/y) growth in domestic LV sales came in with a 7.6% month-on-month (m/m) boost.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/electric-vehicle.png)
Leibowitz: EVs and the US-China Supply Chain Riddle
As the US slides further into protectionism as the solution for our trade problems, a solution that will put us in a position to succeed in the growing economic battle with China is yet to be discovered. The tariffs on China, which President Biden doubled down on, are not working—at least if the goal to out-compete China and other growing economies. China is not our only problem. But it is our No. 1 challenge right now, in geopolitics, potential hostilities, and economics. EVs are a sign of this challenge.