The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change in Ontario, Canada, has launched an official investigation into Volkswagen Canada and Audi Canada regarding their roles in the ongoing diesel emissions scandal that affects some 35,000 vehicles in the province, the ministry announced Wednesday.
The investigation is related to possible violations under Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act that prohibits the sale of vehicles that do not meet emissions standards.
(But, why is there a picture of a Chevrolet Silverado painted in army green at the top? Hold on. We’ll get there.)
According to the statement: “Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act prohibits the sale of vehicles that do not meet emissions standards” and “when Volkswagen Canada and Audi Canada have identified an Ontario-specific solution to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, they will be expected to take action to ensure impacted vehicles are in compliance while minimizing any inconvenience and costs to owners.”
In other news from Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces — which comprises all branches of the military — is keen on hiring someone, or a group of someones, to expose vulnerabilities in computerized vehicle systems by, well, exploiting them.
According to the CBC, a tender notice was posted on the federal government’s looking for a person or company savvy enough to extend the functionality of software already developed by the government to find security holes in ECU programs.
Of particular interest is the “2015 pickup truck” mentioned in the tender, likely one of the several Chevrolet Silverado-based, AM General-built Light Service Support Vehicles — or Milverados — used by the Canadian military.
The tender specifies the exploit software must be capable of carrying out attacks using ISO 14229,
ISO-TP/ISO-15765, J1939 standard message formats sent with USB2CAN devices.
No, really, we just don’t care – eh.
In one case they are investigating alleged automotive ECU maleficence and the other they are investigating the potential for using ECU maleficence.
Sounds about right coming from politicians
They should cut out the middleman and just hire VW to hack their trucks.
VeeDubs deal wasn’t hacking. It was writing software to perform to a specification. The specification was designed to circumvent an emissions law test protocol.
Ontario does not act on behalf of Canada.
@iMatt – Traditionally Ontario has the most federal votes therefore the most power. Vote splitting between the NDP and Liberals helped stop that along with declining manufacturing and increased Western Resource might. Ontario will remain a back seat passenger on the bus as long as those factors remain in play.
Ontario needs a couple of Arkansas rednecks and a couple of truckloads of beer. “Exploits Are US” will show up and defeat anything they want defeated if there’s enough beer involved. A paycheck and free beer is a dream situation for redneck engineers.
Every soldier wants to do a little “coal rolling” now and then, right?
Roger that, Roger. Over, over. What’s our vector Victor?
Clearance, Clarence.
Who would want to hack a bunch of antiquated olive drab pickups? Are the new trucks vulnerable?
Simple, just don’t buy any pickups for the military with OnStar.
The Canadian Government is succumbing to Homeland Security paranoia.
I don’t understand you. OnStar is the greatest thing since the interweb and these trucks are the most advanced available or the Canadian Army wouldn’t use them! First of all – The breaks respond when you press them and the feeling is firm. You can push down until you can’t push any more. Firms right up. Also the steering is sharp. Yank it left, it goes left sharply. What’s more, I can tell you this vehicle is honest. Just read any review.
Freakin Canada still hasn’t got over the Avro Arrow. They’re always convinced they’ve been beguiled out of some moment of greatness.