On Wednesday, a cyber incident at CDK Global, a software provider for 15,000 auto dealerships, disrupted operations at numerous dealerships in the USA and Canada. CDK spokesperson Lisa Finney confirmed the company is investigating the incident and has shut down most systems to protect customers, with efforts underway to restore functionality as soon as possible.

Jeff Ramsey from Ourisman Auto Group in Maryland stressed that essential information, typically stored digitally, is now inaccessible, impacting their ability to close deals. Despite understanding the need for caution, Ramsey expressed concerns about potential business losses as customers might turn to unaffected dealers. The timing is particularly critical during the peak car-buying season.

Brian Benstock of Paragon Honda and Paragon Acura in New York added that while his team can resort to manual processes, the real burden falls on accountants and business staff. He also stressed ongoing worries about customer data security. CDK later announced partial restoration of some systems, though not all have been fully operational yet.

Why does it matter?

CDK's software is essential for various dealership operations, from record-keeping to service scheduling. The disruption has caused significant inconvenience, especially since many dealers rely on these systems daily.