MEMA Forms Strategic Partnership To Address Cybersecurity Risks

The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), the leading international trade association representing vehicle suppliers that manufacture and remanufacture components and systems for use in passenger cars and heavy trucks, is now a strategic partner of the Automotive Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Auto-ISAC). The Auto-ISAC is a non-profit trade association that facilitates the trusted sharing of cybersecurity information and leads the development of vehicle cybersecurity best practices for the automotive industry.

“This significant relationship with the Auto-ISAC means that MEMA will be central to valuable collaboration and communication activities, allowing MEMA to better educate regulators and legislators as they draft new policies and legislation pertaining to cybersecurity in the automotive industry,” said MEMA president and CEO Steve Handschuh. “Many of MEMA’s members already participate directly in the Auto-ISAC where they share cybersecurity information, but this special relationship ensures members, across all of MEMA’s divisions, are engaged as the industry tackles the complex security issues associated with connected and automated vehicles. MEMA is looking forward to working closely with the Auto-ISAC as vehicles become increasingly connected.”

ISACs were first created in 1998 under the Clinton administration to create public and private sector partnerships to share information about physical and cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and events to help protect critical U.S. infrastructure. Today there are ISACs for 24 critical infrastructures, such as Financial Services, Electricity, Energy, and Surface Transportation. The Auto-ISAC was launched in December 2015 to address cybersecurity threats that emerged with the development of vehicle-to-vehicle communications and other technologies and network connections in future vehicles.

The Auto-ISAC’s information sharing model helps automakers and suppliers more effectively counter cyber threats and develop safeguards for vehicle electronic systems and networks by fostering industry collaboration on best practice guidelines for cybersecurity, evolving developments in the design and engineering of components and integrated vehicle systems, and responses to cyber-attacks.