U.S. trade groups representing the largest automakers have agreed for the first time to privacy protections that may prevent hackers from gaining access to increasingly computerized cars.
The accord, which was to be announced Thursday, calls for heightened security for information such as driver location and behavior, according to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of Global Automakers, two Washington-based groups whose members include Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors Co.
"As modern cars not only share the road but will in the not too distant future communicate with one another, vigilance over the privacy of our customers and the security of vehicle systems is an imperative," John Bozella, president and CEO of Global Automakers, said in a statement.