Comment by AlotOfReading

I've worked in both IoT lighting and automotive, so I'm comfortable comparing the two. This also isn't offered as a defense.

The big auto OEMs are just as sensitive to absolute BOM cost optimization, regardless of the percentage increases. I don't think this was a bootslot issue though, regardless of the word "bricked". Even as backwards and ill-advised as auto software can be, generally accepted practice is that updates are impossible while the vehicle is in motion. This is usually enforced by systems shared across multiple OEMs through the tier system.

The situation sounds more like a disastrously buggy new firmware.

I wouldn't put either past stellantis though. The auto industry already scrapes the bottom of the proverbial barrel sometimes, and stellantis isn't exactly known for their top of market compensation.