The Pwn2Own Automotive 2025 event highlighted the increasing security challenges in modern vehicles, where ethical hackers successfully identified 49 previously unknown vulnerabilities across various systems including IVI units, EV chargers, and operating systems.

The competition underscores the critical need for proactive vulnerability discovery and industry collaboration to address threats amplified by vehicle connectivity and software complexity.

Findings consistently point to persistent issues in secure software development and the need for continuous, external testing despite growing regulatory pressures and manufacturer efforts. Ultimately, the event serves as a vital platform for exposing real-world security weaknesses and driving stronger security-by-design practices throughout the automotive ecosystem.