Liked this AI Summary? The Centre has asked automobile manufacturers and auto component makers to carry out a comprehensive audit of the software and electronic systems powering connected cars and electric vehicles (EVs), including commercial vehicles, amid rising cybersecurity concerns, Business Standard reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The Ministry of Heavy Industries has issued an advisory to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA). While the advisory urges companies to review their cybersecurity systems, it does not specify a deadline for completing the audit. The move comes days after the government directed Apple and Google to remove three mobile applications: BAT-BMS, Lossigy and Epoch-i-ion, from their app stores after they were allegedly misused to remotely disable electric vehicles by exploiting vulnerabilities in battery management systems. As per Business Standard, the ministry has asked manufacturers to examine battery communication interfaces, eliminate weak authentication mechanisms, remove unsecured default settings and secure over-the-air (OTA) software update pathways to reduce cyber risks. The advisory also urges automakers to work with the ministries of road transport and highways, and electronics and information technology to strengthen cybersecurity protocols at the manufacturing stage. It describes the recent hacking incidents as a "critical security vulnerability" requiring coordinated action across the automotive industry. The government's primary concern is understood to be connected cars, where internet-enabled features and remote access capabilities are becoming increasingly common. The three apps that were removed from Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store are designed to monitor battery parameters such as charge levels, temperature and battery health. However, videos circulating on social media allegedly showed users exploiting the apps to remotely disable electric vehicles by accessing their battery management systems via Bluetooth. According to the report, if low-cost lithium battery packs are deployed