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Pwn2Own Automotive 2026 advertised more than US$3 million in potential prizes, but that was the contest’s pre-event prize pool—not the amount ultimately paid. In a January 29, 2026 post-event release, Trend Micro reported that the contest awarded US$1,047,000 and identified 76 zero-day vulnerabilities. The competition ran January 21–23 at Tokyo Big Sight and covered connected-vehicle systems, infotainment, and electric-vehicle charging technology.
How much did Pwn2Own Automotive 2026 pay out?
The Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) announced more than US$3 million in potential prizes on October 16, 2025. After the competition, Trend Micro reported US$1,047,000 awarded and 76 zero-day vulnerabilities identified in its release dated January 29, 2026. These figures describe different stages: the first was the announced pool of possible prizes; the second was the reported total awarded after the event.
The published sources establish those headline figures, but do not provide a separate audited reconciliation of every potential prize component against the final awards. The final payout should therefore be attributed to Trend Micro’s post-event report rather than calculated from the prize schedule.
When and where was the contest?
The third automotive-focused Pwn2Own contest took place January 21–23, 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, as part of Automotive World. VicOne and Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative co-hosted it. VicOne identified Tesla and Alpitronic as title sponsors. The organizers framed the event as a vulnerability-discovery contest for connected-vehicle technologies.
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- Sturdy and Compact: Equipped with a 2.5 foot cable made of very thick, flexible insulation. It is important to have a sturdy scanner as it can easily fall to the ground when working in a car. The AD310 OBD2 scanner is a well-constructed mechanic tool with a sleek design. It weighs 12 ounces and measures 8.9 x 6.9 x 1.4 inches. Thanks to its compact design and light weight, transporting the device is not a problem. The buttons are clearly labelled and the screen is large and displays results clearly
- Accurate Fast and Easy to Use: The AD310 scanner can help you or your mechanic understand if your car is in good condition, provides exceptionally accurate and fast results, reads and clears engine trouble emission codes in seconds after you fixed the problem. This device will let you know immediately and fix the problem right away without any car knowledge. No need for batteries or a charger, get power directly from the OBDII Data Link Connector in your vehicle
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- Home Necessity and Worthy to Own: This is an excellent code reader to travel or home with as it weighs less and it is compact in design. You can easily slide it in your backpack as you head to the garage, or put it on the dashboard, this will be a great fit for you. The AD310 is not only portable, but also accurate and fast in performance. Moreover, it covers various car brands and is suitable for people who just need a code reader to check their car
What devices and technologies were targets?
The contest covered six categories, spanning automotive systems, in-vehicle infotainment (IVI), and Level 2 and Level 3 electric-vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), including chargers. Examples in the published contest schedule and rules included:
- IVI head units: Kenwood DNR1007XR, Alpine iLX-F511, and Sony XAV-9500ES.
- Level 3 charging: Alpitronic HYC50.
- Level 2 charging: Several chargers listed in the official schedule.
ZDI published the schedule on January 20, 2026, naming researchers, target devices, and planned attempts. A scheduled attempt does not establish that an exploit succeeded; Trend Micro’s post-event release is the source for the aggregate outcome figures.
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- Wide Capability - Supports 9 protocols compatible with most 1996 US-Based, 2000 EU-Based and Asian cars, and newer OBD II & CAN domestic or import vehicles. Supports 6 languages - English,German, Dutch, Spanish, French, Italian.
- 2.8" LCD Display - Designed with a clear display 2.8" Large LCD screen - white backlight and contrast adjustment. No need any battery or charger, OBD reader gets the power directly from your vehicle through the OBDII Data Link Connector.
- Compact Design - Car diagnostic scanner is equipped with a 2.5 feet long cable and made of a very thick flexible insulator.There are 6 buttons on OBD2 Scanner:scroll up/down,enter/exit and buttons that quick query VIN vehicle number& the DTC fault code.
- ABS / Airbag codes NOT Supported - It is able to read and clear check engine information which is part of OBDII system, but it cannot work with non-OBDII systems, including ABS / Airbag / Oil Service Light, etc.
How did prizes and attack conditions work?
Prize eligibility depended on the target, the attack option, and a successful exploit demonstration under the rules. The rules say the schedule was determined by random drawing and that the first successful eligible attempt against a target won that target’s prize. Prizes were not necessarily cumulative, so a listed amount should not be read as an automatic add-on to other awards.
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The rules listed US$60,000 for a Field Mode attack and US$40,000 for a Lab Mode attack against the Alpitronic HYC50 Level 3 charger. The modes differed in permitted access:
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- Understand Your Check Engine Light – The ANCEL AD410 OBD2 scanner helps everyday drivers quickly read and clear engine-related fault codes, view code definitions, and understand why the check engine light is on before visiting a repair shop. With 42,000+ built-in DTC lookups, this car code reader helps reduce guesswork and makes basic vehicle diagnostics easier for beginners and DIY users
- Full OBD2 Diagnostics Made Simple – More than a basic engine code reader, this OBD2 scanner diagnostic tool supports key OBDII functions including reading/clearing codes, live data, freeze frame, I/M readiness, O2 sensor test, EVAP test, vehicle information, and MIL status. It helps you check your car’s condition, verify repairs after the issue is fixed, and communicate with mechanics more confidently
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- Works With Most OBD2 Vehicles – Compatible with most 1996 and newer U.S.-based OBD2 cars, SUVs, and light trucks, as well as many 2000 and newer EU/Asian OBD2 vehicles. Supports major OBDII protocols including CAN, ISO9141, KWP2000, J1850 VPW, and J1850 PWM. This automotive diagnostic scanner is designed for wide vehicle coverage; please check compatibility with your vehicle before purchase
| Mode | Published prize | Access and named attack surfaces |
|---|---|---|
| Field Mode | US$60,000 | The charger remained closed; listed surfaces included the charging connector, NFC, and touchscreen. |
| Lab Mode | US$40,000 | Allowed the listed external surfaces plus internal interfaces such as LAN, USB, CAN, and JTAG. |
The rules excluded several techniques, including attacks that required control of external infrastructure.
In-vehicle infotainment systems
The rules listed a US$20,000 cash prize for each of three IVI targets:
Rank #4
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- 【Live Data Graphing – Spot Engine Issues in Real Time】View and log live sensor data in easy-to-read graphs with this OBD2 scanner diagnostic tool. Monitor ox- ygen sensors, fuel trims, coolant temperature, RPM, and more to spot suspicious values instantly. This obd scanner gives you professional-grade insight without the pro price tag—a feature you won’t find on basic $20 car code readers
| Target | Published cash prize |
|---|---|
| Sony XAV-9500ES | US$20,000 |
| Alpine iLX-F511 | US$20,000 |
| Kenwood DNR1007XR | US$20,000 |
Among the IVI restrictions, the rules excluded using the software update mechanism to load unsigned modified firmware and reusing vulnerabilities that had been used at previous Pwn2Own Automotive events.
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The rules specified a Tesla Model 3 or comparable vehicle with a stated MSRP of US$42,990 for the first-round winner against an eligible Tesla-category target. That vehicle was conditional on the specified result; it was not an automatic award for every successful attempt.
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- 【A MUST-HAVE SCANNER TOOL FOR DIYERS】 - VDIAGTOOL VD10 car code reader is an incredibly useful, handheld obd2 scanner for each car owner or hobbyist, even for those with little to no experience when it comes to vehicle mechanics! Similar to a fixd car diagnostic tool, using this car diagnostic scanner is extremely easy. All you have to do is attach it to your car OBDII port and you can diagnose car problems in seconds! Read Codes (DTCs); Clear Codes; Live Data; View Freeze Frame; I/M Readiness; Vehicle Information.
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Why the headline prize pool is not the final payout
The more-than-US$3-million figure described the potential prizes available across targets and eligible outcomes before the event. Actual awards depended on which eligible attempts succeeded and on the rules governing each target and mode. The reported US$1,047,000 is the post-event award total published by Trend Micro. It is not a revised statement of the original prize pool, and the available sources do not break down the difference into a complete audited account.
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