Japanese car interior detail manufacturer, Kojima, has recently been subjected to a cyber attack, resulting in the suspension of the entire Toyota Motor production line in Japan. Kojima is an important supplier of cup holders and USB-shares for Toyota cars, and the operation of 14 of their factories were brought to a halt due to the cyber attack. This has caused a loss of $375 million, leading to vehicle production being reduced by 10,000 cars for a day, which would be a 5% reduction of Toyota’s total volume for a month in Japan.
This attack on Kojima reflects the growing problem of cybercrime in Japan, where there has been an increase of 58% in attacks from program carriers compared to 2022. Japan leads the global supply chain for microcircuit components, therefore, these kinds of incidents can have global consequences.
Cyber attacks on manufacturing and supply chains of auto-makers have become more frequent in recent years. Cybersecurity experts said that it is essential for manufacturers to have cybersecurity measures in place, which includes making investments in their security infrastructure to ensure that they can withstand future cyberattacks.
The increasing sophistication of cyber attacks has indeed become a major concern for the international business community. As technology develops and cybercriminals become more skilled, there is an urgent need for corporations to be proactive in their cybersecurity measures to ensure that costly disruptions are minimized.