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Hackers steal research data from Sweden’s Volvo Cars

Swedish manufacturer Volvo Cars said Friday that hackers had stolen research and development data from its systems in a cyberattack.

Finished cars wait to be transported at Swedish auto maker Volvo Cars's Torslanda production plant in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Finished cars wait to be transported at Swedish auto maker Volvo Cars's Torslanda production plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Investigations into the cyberattack so far show that the firm's R&D data, not customer data, has been affected. Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

The company, owned by China’s Geely, “has become aware that one of its file repositories has been illegally accessed by a third party,” it said.

“Investigations so far confirm that a limited amount of the company’s R&D property has been stolen during the intrusion,” Volvo added.

It warned that “there may be an impact on the company’s operation” from the hack, sending its stock falling 3.5 percent in Stockholm, to 72.44 kronor ($8.00, 7.06 euros).

But the company added there was likely no “impact on the safety or security of its customers’ cars or their personal data”.

Gothenburg-based Volvo is currently pumping cash into electrifying its entire range by 2030.

A spokesman told AFP that the company had not been hit by ransomware and remained in full control of its data.

He added that a “third party” had contacted Volvo “recently” about the information theft, without giving any details about the exchange.

Volvo Cars separated from truck manufacturer Volvo Group in 1999, before being bought by Geely in 2010.

Member comments

  1. If Geely own Volvo then the headline should read “Hackers steal research data from China’s Volvo Cars. You can’t sell your car and then when you see it in the street say “That’s my car”..

    1. I politely request that you proofread and correct this otherwise dumb comment because it’s not understandable.

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TRAVEL NEWS

Stockholm’s Bromma Airport’s future in doubt after it loses 90 percent of air traffic

The future of Stockholm's second airport, Bromma, is in doubt after regional airline BRA struck a deal with SAS that will move nearly all flights to Arlanda Airport.

Stockholm's Bromma Airport's future in doubt after it loses 90 percent of air traffic

As of January 1st, BRA will operate flights on behalf of SAS with Stockholm’s principal airport Arlanda as a hub, the two airlines announced in separate press releases.

As a result, around 90 percent of air traffic will disappear from Bromma airport, according to the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.

“I don’t think the airport will survive without us,” Per G Braathen, president of the BRA airline, told a press conference.

“We have been present at Bromma for 25 years and it is not profitable to run this airport. We need to concentrate on Arlanda,” he added.

The deal with SAS extends for over seven years and is worth around six billion kronor (530 million euros), BRA said in a statement.

The airline added that its fleet would be expanded and “more pilots and cabin crew will be recruited”, while ground services and administrative functions would be reduced.

The integration of BRA’s fleet with SAS will enhance Swedish infrastructure but is also “positioning Arlanda as a stronger central hub for domestic and international travel”, SAS CEO Anko van der Werff said in a statement.

Jonas Abrahamsson, CEO of Swedavia which operates Sweden’s airports, said that Tuesday’s announcement meant that domestic flights would now be concentrated on Arlanda.

“Bromma in principle will be without scheduled services,” Abrahamsson said in a statement.

He added that while many travellers liked Bromma, “a consolidation of air traffic to Arlanda is a natural development”.

Bromma Airport will lose its biggest air traffic operator from the turn of the year. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

The city of Stockholm wants to close Bromma airport as soon as possible to make way for housing and infrastructure, but Swedavia has a contract to operate the airport until 2038.

Daniella Waldfogel, CEO of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the announcement and said it meant that the closure of Bromma should be “moved forward”.

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