The European Commission is set to propose draft legislation this year aimed at granting insurers, leasing firms, and repair shops fair access to vehicle data, according to an auto industry action plan scheduled for release on Wednesday.
If backed by EU member states, the law could resolve an ongoing dispute between car service providers, technology firms, and automakers over the monetization of in-vehicle data.
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Automakers, in particular, have been leveraging vehicle-generated information to develop new services, while third-party firms argue that access should be more widely available.
The data at stake includes information on driving patterns, fuel consumption, and tire wear, with analysts estimating that the connected car market could be worth hundreds of billions of euros by the end of the decade. However, EU law does not clearly define ownership of such data, leading to conflicts over access.
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“Due to many specificities of connected motor vehicles and its potential to open new business opportunities, including on bi-directional and smart charging, complementary measures are needed,” the draft action plan, seen by Reuters, stated. It added, “The Commission will therefore take adequate measures, including a legislative proposal on access to vehicle data, to allow the full automotive ecosystem to reap the benefits of data from connected vehicles.”
Automakers have expressed concerns that broad regulations could compromise trade secrets and increase the risk of data misuse. Industry players have also warned that major technology companies, such as Alphabet’s Google and Apple, could gain dominance over vehicle infotainment systems, further shaping the digital automotive landscape.