Topic: Fiat Chrysler

The European Commission ordered the Netherlands and Luxembourg to recover up to 30 million euros each in back taxes from Starbucks and Fiat Chrysler, respectively. Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager ruled that the companies received illegal state aid through special tax arrangements. The hosts suggest these rulings represent an economic "retaliation" against U.S. corporate tax avoidance strategies like the "Dutch Reach-around."

The FDA issued a warning to hospitals regarding Hospira Symbiq infusion pumps, which are vulnerable to remote hacking that could modify medication dosages. This warning follows a voluntary recall of 1.4 million Fiat Chrysler vehicles after a demonstration showed hackers taking control of a Jeep. ABC News reporter Aditi Roy notes that while no specific attack prompted the FDA alert, the risk to internet-connected medical devices is considered a real possibility.

The "Right to Repair" movement is highlighted as car manufacturers use the DMCA to prevent independent repairs. A clip from the EVTV podcast suggests the famous Wired magazine Jeep hack was a staged event coordinated with Chrysler to secure a DMCA waiver and push for new automotive software legislation sponsored by Senators Blumenthal and Markey.

A Wired magazine report demonstrated hackers remotely taking control of a 2014 Jeep Cherokee's engine and braking systems. The hosts review technical critiques of the hack, suggesting some elements may have been exaggerated or required physical access to the vehicle's firmware. The discussion links the reality of car hacking to the suspicious death of journalist Michael Hastings, whose vehicle crashed at high speed in 2013.

Vice President Joe Biden claimed Chrysler repaid its government loans six years early, but the repayment was actually funded by taking out new private loans at lower interest rates. Simultaneously, the General Services Administration (GSA) is purchasing 400,000 vehicles, including many Chrysler hybrids like the Aspen, to meet a presidential goal of one million hybrids on the road. The efficiency of these $44,000 SUVs is questioned, as they only achieve 20 MPG on the highway.