diff --git a/selfdrive/car/body/values.py b/selfdrive/car/body/values.py
index 56d9723818..ce811ad221 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/body/values.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/body/values.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from enum import StrEnum
 from typing import Dict
 
 from cereal import car
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ class CarControllerParams:
     pass
 
 
-class CAR:
+class CAR(StrEnum):
   BODY = "COMMA BODY"
 
 
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py b/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
index 7017580368..5c1234258e 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
@@ -66,9 +66,8 @@ def load_interfaces(brand_names):
 def _get_interface_names() -> Dict[str, List[str]]:
   # returns a dict of brand name and its respective models
   brand_names = {}
-  for brand_name, model_names in get_interface_attr("CAR").items():
-    model_names = [getattr(model_names, c) for c in model_names.__dict__.keys() if not c.startswith("__")]
-    brand_names[brand_name] = model_names
+  for brand_name, brand_models in get_interface_attr("CAR").items():
+    brand_names[brand_name] = [model.value for model in brand_models]
 
   return brand_names
 
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/chrysler/values.py b/selfdrive/car/chrysler/values.py
index 657ada2706..9b0742380a 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/chrysler/values.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/chrysler/values.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # ruff: noqa: E501
-from enum import IntFlag
+from enum import IntFlag, StrEnum
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Union
 
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class ChryslerFlags(IntFlag):
   HIGHER_MIN_STEERING_SPEED = 1
 
 
-class CAR:
+class CAR(StrEnum):
   # Chrysler
   PACIFICA_2017_HYBRID = "CHRYSLER PACIFICA HYBRID 2017"
   PACIFICA_2018_HYBRID = "CHRYSLER PACIFICA HYBRID 2018"
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/ford/values.py b/selfdrive/car/ford/values.py
index ffb0f7c3ee..d11ba4ccf0 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/ford/values.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/ford/values.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from collections import defaultdict
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
-from enum import Enum
+from enum import Enum, StrEnum
 from typing import Dict, List, Union
 
 from cereal import car
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class CarControllerParams:
     pass
 
 
-class CAR:
+class CAR(StrEnum):
   BRONCO_SPORT_MK1 = "FORD BRONCO SPORT 1ST GEN"
   ESCAPE_MK4 = "FORD ESCAPE 4TH GEN"
   EXPLORER_MK6 = "FORD EXPLORER 6TH GEN"
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/gm/values.py b/selfdrive/car/gm/values.py
index d12c21dc23..837d664dad 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/gm/values.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/gm/values.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # ruff: noqa: E501
 from collections import defaultdict
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from enum import Enum
+from enum import Enum, StrEnum
 from typing import Dict, List, Union
 
 from cereal import car
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class CarControllerParams:
     self.BRAKE_LOOKUP_V = [self.MAX_BRAKE, 0.]
 
 
-class CAR:
+class CAR(StrEnum):
   HOLDEN_ASTRA = "HOLDEN ASTRA RS-V BK 2017"
   VOLT = "CHEVROLET VOLT PREMIER 2017"
   CADILLAC_ATS = "CADILLAC ATS Premium Performance 2018"
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/honda/values.py b/selfdrive/car/honda/values.py
index 55543b7b7d..092231d60c 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/honda/values.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/honda/values.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from enum import Enum, IntFlag
+from enum import Enum, IntFlag, StrEnum
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Union
 
 from cereal import car
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ VISUAL_HUD = {
 }
 
 
-class CAR:
+class CAR(StrEnum):
   ACCORD = "HONDA ACCORD 2018"
   ACCORDH = "HONDA ACCORD HYBRID 2018"
   CIVIC = "HONDA CIVIC 2016"
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/hyundai/values.py b/selfdrive/car/hyundai/values.py
index 911c8daf8a..cad983a66f 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/hyundai/values.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/hyundai/values.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # ruff: noqa: E501
 import re
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from enum import Enum, IntFlag
+from enum import Enum, IntFlag, StrEnum
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Set, Tuple, Union
 
 from cereal import car
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class HyundaiFlags(IntFlag):
   CANFD_HDA2_ALT_STEERING = 512
 
 
-class CAR:
+class CAR(StrEnum):
   # Hyundai
   AZERA_6TH_GEN = "HYUNDAI AZERA 6TH GEN"
   AZERA_HEV_6TH_GEN = "HYUNDAI AZERA HYBRID 6TH GEN"
@@ -400,8 +400,8 @@ def match_fw_to_car_fuzzy(live_fw_versions) -> Set[str]:
   # to distinguish between hybrid and ICE. All EVs so far are either exclusively
   # electric or specify electric in the platform code.
   # TODO: whitelist platforms that we've seen hybrid and ICE versions of that have these specifiers
-  fuzzy_platform_blacklist = set(CANFD_CAR - EV_CAR)
-  candidates = set()
+  fuzzy_platform_blacklist = {str(car) for car in set(CANFD_CAR - EV_CAR)}
+  candidates: Set[str] = set()
 
   for candidate, fws in FW_VERSIONS.items():
     # Keep track of ECUs which pass all checks (platform codes, within date range)
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/mazda/values.py b/selfdrive/car/mazda/values.py
index b638a73e63..849cf229a3 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/mazda/values.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/mazda/values.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from enum import StrEnum
 from typing import Dict, List, Union
 
 from cereal import car
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ class CarControllerParams:
     pass
 
 
-class CAR:
+class CAR(StrEnum):
   CX5 = "MAZDA CX-5"
   CX9 = "MAZDA CX-9"
   MAZDA3 = "MAZDA 3"
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/mock/values.py b/selfdrive/car/mock/values.py
index 8426041b32..c6c96579b4 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/mock/values.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/mock/values.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
+from enum import StrEnum
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Union
 
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.docs_definitions import CarInfo
 
 
-class CAR:
+class CAR(StrEnum):
   MOCK = 'mock'
 
 
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/nissan/values.py b/selfdrive/car/nissan/values.py
index 979e09eb66..474cb15e7f 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/nissan/values.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/nissan/values.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # ruff: noqa: E501
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from enum import StrEnum
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Union
 
 from cereal import car
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ class CarControllerParams:
     pass
 
 
-class CAR:
+class CAR(StrEnum):
   XTRAIL = "NISSAN X-TRAIL 2017"
   LEAF = "NISSAN LEAF 2018"
   # Leaf with ADAS ECU found behind instrument cluster instead of glovebox
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/subaru/values.py b/selfdrive/car/subaru/values.py
index 7f66069514..270974e2a0 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/subaru/values.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/subaru/values.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
-from enum import Enum, IntFlag
+from enum import Enum, IntFlag, StrEnum
 from typing import Dict, List, Union
 
 from cereal import car
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class CanBus:
   camera = 2
 
 
-class CAR:
+class CAR(StrEnum):
   # Global platform
   ASCENT = "SUBARU ASCENT LIMITED 2019"
   ASCENT_2023 = "SUBARU ASCENT 2023"
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/tesla/values.py b/selfdrive/car/tesla/values.py
index 15283ae4b2..548809af1b 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/tesla/values.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/tesla/values.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # ruff: noqa: E501
 from collections import namedtuple
+from enum import StrEnum
 from typing import Dict, List, Union
 
 from cereal import car
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ Ecu = car.CarParams.Ecu
 Button = namedtuple('Button', ['event_type', 'can_addr', 'can_msg', 'values'])
 
 
-class CAR:
+class CAR(StrEnum):
   AP1_MODELS = 'TESLA AP1 MODEL S'
   AP2_MODELS = 'TESLA AP2 MODEL S'
 
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/toyota/values.py b/selfdrive/car/toyota/values.py
index f14e3f237b..96d43ee8e9 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/toyota/values.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/toyota/values.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import re
 from collections import defaultdict
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
-from enum import Enum, IntFlag
+from enum import Enum, IntFlag, StrEnum
 from typing import Dict, List, Set, Union
 
 from cereal import car
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class ToyotaFlags(IntFlag):
   DISABLE_RADAR = 4
 
 
-class CAR:
+class CAR(StrEnum):
   # Toyota
   ALPHARD_TSS2 = "TOYOTA ALPHARD 2020"
   ALPHARDH_TSS2 = "TOYOTA ALPHARD HYBRID 2021"
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/volkswagen/values.py b/selfdrive/car/volkswagen/values.py
index 1781b31f05..1e270ba1b6 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/volkswagen/values.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/volkswagen/values.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from collections import defaultdict, namedtuple
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
-from enum import Enum
+from enum import Enum, StrEnum
 from typing import Dict, List, Union
 
 from cereal import car
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ class CANBUS:
 # FW_VERSIONS for that existing CAR.
 # Exception: SEAT Leon and SEAT Ateca share a chassis code
 
-class CAR:
+class CAR(StrEnum):
   ARTEON_MK1 = "VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON 1ST GEN"          # Chassis AN, Mk1 VW Arteon and variants
   ATLAS_MK1 = "VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS 1ST GEN"            # Chassis CA, Mk1 VW Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport
   CRAFTER_MK2 = "VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER 2ND GEN"        # Chassis SY/SZ, Mk2 VW Crafter, VW Grand California, MAN TGE