The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) is co-ordinating UK and Ireland activity as part of a European-wide coalition that is urging the European Commission to introduce legislation that ensures fair remote access to in-vehicle date and functional resources.

The coalition of European federations, representing parts distributors, independent garages, insurers, data publishers, component and equipment suppliers, tyre suppliers, emergency breakdown associations, lease companies, oil and lubricants suppliers, consumers and SME representatives, argues that a legislative solution that ensures access will not only enable innovation but would also improve customer choice in the automotive aftermarket. Moreover, access to this vehicle data is essential in allowing for effective competition within the market and enabling the EU to become a front runner in connected and autonomous mobility and related services.

The new manifesto argues that independent operators need four key abilities in order to provide competitive, innovative services and digital solutions to their customers. These are:
-    Independent and direct real-time access to in-vehicle generated data that is not monitored by vehicle manufacturers, including those which are time critical
-    Bi-directional communication with the vehicle and its functions, independent from the vehicle manufacturer
-    Safe, secure and independent remote interaction with the driver, using the in-vehicle human-machine interface functions (e.g. via the dashboard or voice commands)
-    Independent software running directly in the connected vehicle using onboard capabilities to process any dynamically generated data as closely as possible to its source.

This access would not be possible with the model put forward by vehicle manufacturers, the so-called ‘Extended Vehicle’, which will channel all future communication and data access through the VM’s backend server. This would prevent all other service providers from offering competing services to consumers, as only a small part of the vehicle generated data will be shared with independent service providers, compared to the data available to the VM.

In two recent Resolutions, the European Parliament called on the European Commission to take legislative action to ensure fair, secure, real time and technology neutral access to in-vehicle data for some third part entries.

Wendy Williamson, IAAF chief executive said: “We call on European and national policymakers to present a robust legislative proposal by 2020. By doing so, EU Member States would ensure a competitive services environment and become the leader in connected and autonomous mobility and related services, while at the same time safeguarding its SME-friendly, social and green market economy and benefits to consumers.”