Rheinmetall’s Automotive Sector Hit by Cyberattack
German automotive and arms manufacturer Rheinmetall suffered a cyberattack on Friday, the company said. The attack hit Rheinmetall’s business unit that serves industrial customers, particularly in the automotive sector. The company’s defense division — which produces military vehicles, weapons, and ammunition — remained unaffected and continues to operate “reliably,” Rheinmetall’s spokesperson Oliver Hoffmann said in an email to Recorded Future News. Rheinmetall is currently investigating the extent of the damage and is in close contact with the relevant cybersecurity authorities, Hoffmann said.
UPDATE September '23, Reuters: “Normal production processes at these locations are currently experiencing significant disruption,” Rheinmetall said in a statement late on Thursday. “The IT infrastructure in the region has been shut down and is currently being rebuilt”,
The timing of the attack aligned with Rheinmetall's talks of constructing a new tank factory in Ukraine.
Incident Date
April 14, 2023
Location
Estimated Cost
IT shutdown 2-4 weeks is costing 3 to 4 million euros ($3.27 to $4.36 million) per week.