Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 4, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 25, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleThe EU plans a law for fair access to vehicle data, benefiting insurers and repair shops, while addressing data ownership issues.
By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission aims to propose draft legislation this year that would allow insurers, leasing companies and repair shops fair access to valuable vehicle data, according to its auto industry action plan to be published on Wednesday.
Provided it gets the backing of member states, the law could end a tussle between car services groups, Big Tech and automakers that are all seeking to monetise in-vehicle data as they seek to develop new products and services.
The data covers anything from driving habits to fuel consumption and tyre wear, and analysts have said it means the connected car market could be worth hundreds of billions of euros by the end of the decade.
Ownership of the data is not clearly defined in EU law, which has resulted in the current dispute over access.
"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," said the draft auto industry action plan seen by Reuters.
"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," it said, with the proposal planned for this year.
Carmakers have cautioned against legislation that could impose blanket obligations on them and also warned of the risks to trade secrets as well as data misuse.
The auto industry has in addition voiced concern that Big Tech could soon dominate the infotainment systems on cars' dashboards. Alphabet's Google and Apple have already got a foothold in the market.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Barbara Lewis)
The European Commission aims to propose legislation that would allow insurers, leasing companies, and repair shops fair access to vehicle data.
The data includes information on driving habits, fuel consumption, and tyre wear, which could significantly impact the connected car market.
Carmakers are worried about blanket obligations imposed by the legislation, as well as risks to trade secrets and potential data misuse.
The auto industry has expressed concerns that Big Tech companies could dominate infotainment systems in cars, with Google and Apple already having a presence.
Ownership of vehicle data is not clearly defined in EU law, leading to disputes over access and highlighting the need for legislative clarity.
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