Generally speaking they also don't pay software development well so I would guess they aren't exactly getting the best talent either. I think cars are cool, but I wouldn't take a 50% pay cut to develop software for them.
It's not a question of talent, just timing and process. The timing is rigid and there's a hard, non-negotiable deadline when metal starts being stamped. The process around certifying makes you work at a tiny fraction of your normal speed, because most time is spent filling out auditing requirements.
You still need to pay enough to attract the kind of people who understand what "undefined behavior" is and why you should avoid it. That number is somewhat higher than what most mid-level automotive programmers are paid, in my experience.
