The General Motors engine control unit (ECU) computer lockdown may not just include the upcoming new 2020 Chevy Corvette C8. It may also extend to new 2020 Chevy trucks and beyond.
Note: this is NOT an official statement by Chevrolet or General Motors.
2020 Chevy Trucks
An insider source familiar with the matter told TFLtruck that working with third-party tuners to boost power and modify the truck’s performance will continue to get harder and harder if not impossible in the future.
There was another recent report that the upcoming C8 Chevy Corvette will also have an “untunable” ECU. The Corvette report says that tampering with a new C8 Corvette ECU will likely render the car unusable or “bricked”.
What are the possible reasons for Chevrolet to lock down the truck’s computers in such a way that it becomes technically unhackable? The source says that the main motivations are safety and security. As new vehicles add more remote diagnostics and autonomous features and functions, the more dangerous software modifications become. In other words, one of the goals is to prevent remote hacking of the vehicle that leads many safety concerns, loss of vehicle control, etc.
Does it mean that all aftermarket tuner companies will soon be out of business? Not so fast…
Is any piece of network-connected machinery truly unhackable? If there is a challenge posed, there will be people to take it on. There is a reason why certain voter ballot machines have no network connectivity.
Of course, there is still room for manufacturers like General Motors and other to make official agreements with 3rd party aftermarket companies to allow certain access to the ECU in order to increase power or otherwise improve it. How will this be managed? Will this process also be unhackable? We will have to wait and see how this plays out.
While you contemplate this topic, here is first look at the upcoming 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 Diesel.
