ROUND ROCK, Texas — Automobile businesses across the nation are still reeling from the effects of a cybersecurity attack last week.
CDK Global is an Austin-based automotive management platform, and its software is being held up for ransom.
The ransom attack also shut down software that auto dealerships use to order cars and car parts across the nation.
John Ford, owner of Eurocharged ATX in Round Rock, said ordering car parts for his auto repair and maintenance shop is usually easy.
“You can do anything, from an oil filter to needing turbos to gaskets,” he said. “Basically anything and everything that you would need for your vehicle to be able to function.”
He said the last week has been difficult.
“It's a massive supply chain issue at the moment,” Ford said. “We are no longer able to order parts, and our customer’s cars are, unfortunately, having to sit.”
Ford said they can only order car parts through the car dealerships they work with.
“I mean, several places, like O'Reilly's and AutoZone, I'm sure you can buy parts for. But we don't do that. It has to be OEM parts because we work on such high-end cars, and OEM parts can only come from the dealership,” he said.
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He said depending on the car part, they can get it in one to a few days. Ford said they serve 10 to 15 people a day, and repairs can be as quick as a day's turnaround. But he said work has come to a standstill with no car parts coming in, and work is piling up.
“We have a lot of cars in the parking lot and on the side of the building, almost 30 cars that, unfortunately, are just sitting there. We also have 12 lifts that the cars are also just sitting on at the moment for parts,” Ford said.
He said if dealerships can't adapt and find alternative ways to order parts, their businesses will be in trouble.
“We’re a small business,” Ford said. “Big businesses can lose money for a day and that's OK, but we can't because we have to continue paying for what we have in order to survive, to continue to provide for our employees and, obviously, provide for them in their families.”
Ford said in a couple months, it could even be hard to pay rent.
“It kind of cripples me because I can't do anything about it, unfortunately, and nobody can,” he said.
KVUE reached out to CDK Global about the attack. The company told us in a statement that it promptly launched an investigation with third-party experts and notified law enforcement. It said it has begun the restoration process but would not share any more information at this time.
Ford said at least 12 other business owners he knows are hurting too while this continues.
“It’s frustrating because our integrity is our word. It’s what matters the most, and we want to be able to provide our customers with the best customer service and get them back on the road. And, unfortunately, we can't do that at the moment,” Ford said.
CDK Global said it's helping customers find alternative ways to conduct business.