There is no legislation in the EU that would allow third parties other than vehicle manufacturers to access vehicle generated data services. And what is at stake is the European Commission’s market forecast of even 400 billion euros by 2030.
On Friday, March 31, 2023, a press conference was held in Brussels for representatives of consumer groups, car manufacturers, the leasing and rental industry, aftermarket operators, car dealers, authorized and independent car services, data publishers and insurance companies. They once again urged Commissioner Thierry Breton to urgently put forward long-planned rules on access to data, functions and resources in the car. They also pointed out that there are currently great barriers to achieving “fair and equitable access to vehicle-generated data, which, due to the design of vehicles, gives vehicle manufacturers an almost insurmountable advantage.”
Data should not be determined by manufacturers
Agustín Reyna of BEUC, representing European consumers, said: “Because data is the new goldmine for car manufacturers, making them the custodian of data about drivers and their cars is very problematic. It’s not up to car manufacturers to decide who has access to this data, but consumers. Vehicle manufacturers have long opposed any measure that would undermine their monopoly on automotive data, and this must stop in the interest of the aftermarket and mobility competition, and ultimately consumers.”
It was also pointed out during the press conference that this problem could be further exacerbated due to the growing participation of cloud and internet service companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google, who are working with manufacturers to penetrate this market more actively. .
Benjamin Krieger, Secretary General of CLEPA, representing European Automotive Components Manufacturers, said: “Access to data and resources in the vehicle is not only important but essential for the survival and prosperity of European automotive component manufacturers in an ever-evolving industry. Without fair access, the entire automotive ecosystem, including parts manufacturers and the entire aftermarket, cannot remain competitive with the tech giants that already dominate automotive infotainment, and we cannot continue to innovate components and services to meet the new digital demands. .
Is the EU delaying action in the interest of consumers and market competitiveness?
The European Commission originally planned to adopt this legal act in 2021, and the EU proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on harmonized rules for the equitable access and use of data (Data Law) spoke of the need for sectoral legislation to address these issues.
Urgently need prescriptions
Representatives of the aforementioned industries called on Commissioner Breton to submit a legally binding and detailed proposal for legislation in this area no later than this autumn.
Tomasz Benben, Managing Director of the Association of Automotive Parts Distributors and Manufacturers (SDCM), CLEPA board member, said: “Automotive manufacturers want more and more revenue from data-driven software and subscription services, so it’s hardly surprising they don’t want to share them. Without clear rules set by the European legislator and specific to the automotive industry, a small group of concerns will be responsible for the data generated by our cars, which will harm fair competition and consumers. The European Commission, wishing to ensure that the economic potential associated with the use of data in the automotive industry can be fully realized, should have submitted an industry act long ago for further processing.
Source: Wprost
I am Jason Root. I work in the news website industry and mostly cover the automobile industry. I have also written for Daily News Hack. My work revolves around new car models, prices, and features. In addition, I often write about used cars and tips for buying them. My articles are meant to be helpful for those who are in the market for a new or used car.
