ETRMA in new call for action on in-vehicle data regulation

Brussels – European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA) has joined a grouping of 10 automotive service providers (ISPs)* in a call on the European Commission to speed up legislation regarding in-vehicle data access.

The 11 Oct open letter urged Commission president Ursula von der Leyen urging her to “prioritise the already-prepared proposal” for a legislation on access to in-vehicle data as part of her first 100-day plan.

In their letter the ISP associations said competitiveness in the automotive sector “hinges on fair access to vehicle-generated data.”

“The companies represented by the 10 ISP associations cannot compete effectively without access to this critical raw material – vehicle generated data,” the letter added.

The letter stressed the “vital role that access to vehicle-generated data plays in improving the competitiveness of European companies,” adding that the companies represented by the ISPs could not compete effectively without access to critical raw data.

The letter renewed previous calls by industry association for the establishment of a legislation to address the issue.

In April 2023, Von der Leyen confirmed that the Commission would propose legislation tackle the problem and a proposal was drafted following extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders.

The proposal, backed by fact-based evidence from several studies, received a positive opinion issued by the Regulatory Scrutiny Board on its impact assessment.

However, the letter said, the timing of the European elections potentially prevented the previous Commission from adopting this proposal.

“We now urge you to bring forward the already-prepared proposal on access to in-vehicle data,
functions, and resources as part of your first 100 days’ plan,” it added.

On the details of the regulation, the grouping called on the Commission leader to beware of potentially ‘deregulating’ in her efforts to reduce and simplify regulation where possible.

The Data Act, it said, does not resolve the specific issues related to vehicle architecture, which is governed by the Type Approval Regulation.

“It neither resolves the systemic competition problem in our sector, nor provides the legal basis for
economic investments in data-based services using in-vehicle generated data,” the letter said.

As a result, the signatories called for “complementary sector-specific legislation” to allow fair access to vehicle-generated data and to unlock the full potential of the data-driven economy.

“Unfettered access to vehicle-generated data,” the letter concluded, enables innovation, create jobs and provide smarter and more sustainable mobility solutions.

*ISP associations include:

ADPA: European Automotive Data Publishers Association

AIRC: Association Internationale des Réparateurs en Carrosserie

CECRA: European Council for Motor Trades and Repairs

CLEPA: European Association of Automotive Suppliers

EGEA: European Garage and Test Equipment Association

ETRMA: European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers' Association

FIA Region I: Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile

FIGIEFA:  International Federation of Independent Automotive Aftermarket Distributors

Insurance Europe: European insurance and reinsurance federation

Leaseurope: European Federation of Leasing Company Associations