Automakers’ privacy principles fail to provide consumer control of vehicle data, Auto Care Association and MEMA say
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of Global Automakers released “Consumer Privacy Protection Principles,” which are intended to provide car owners with a set of principles regarding the sharing of the personal information available over vehicle telematics systems.
Two aftermarket associations agree that the measures fall short of what is needed.
While the Auto Care Association said it applauds the car companies for taking this initiative to inform consumers of the sizable amount of personal information that is being transmitted to manufacturers from their customers’ vehicles, the association believes that the manufacturers are still failing to provide car owners any choices regarding the information that is available from their vehicle.
Currently, car owners are at the mercy of the vehicle manufacturers as to where information on their vehicle is sent. This includes vehicle diagnostic, mileage and geolocation information. All of this information is sent directly to the manufacturer, and they decide with which third parties to share that information, the Auto Care Association said.
In many cases, car owners have established trusted long-term relationships with repair shops and other vehicle service entities to which they would prefer their diagnostic and other personal data be sent, in order to ensure more convenient and efficient service for their vehicle. Since these third parties often compete with the franchised dealer, it is unlikely that the data produced by a car owner’s vehicle will be made available by a manufacturer to an independent service entity.
The Auto Care Association said it strongly urges the vehicle manufacturers to build into their vehicles a secure gateway, which will allow motorists to have information that is transmitted by their vehicle and sent to the third party of their choice, not the car companies’ choice. Such action will permit car owners to have full control of the information available from their embedded vehicle telematics systems.
The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) said it views the automaker’s principles as a positive first-step in providing greater transparency, privacy and the option for motorists to “opt-out” of sharing non-essential vehicle system data.
“MEMA believes there is still much work to be done to ensure motorists continue to have the freedom of choice where their connected-vehicle is serviced as well as the freedom of choice to send vehicle data directly to independent service providers, in both the light duty and heavy duty vehicle sectors,” said Steve Handschuh, president and chief executive officer of MEMA.
“MEMA recognizes that technology is moving quickly and that there are big unknowns about the transformation this technology will bring,” Handschuh said. “We do know however, that since the dawn of the automobile and the technology advancements of the last 110 years, independent service providers, distributors and parts suppliers have served a valuable role in keeping all makes and models of vehicles properly maintained and safe.”
MEMA said it seeks to continue its work with vehicle manufacturers to ensure that new vehicle technologies would not take away the freedom motorists enjoy today of where vehicle service and repair is performed. This would include the adoption of a universal vehicle systems gateway into connected vehicles and standards for an open data architecture as a catalyst for app developers to enhance the owner experience, and to do so safely while providing vehicle owners control over their privacy.
“MEMA stands ready to serve as a platform for industry dialogue in working with vehicle manufacturers to achieve our common goal of serving the needs of the motoring public,” Handschuh concluded.
For more information from MEMA, contact Ann Wilson, senior vice president of government affairs, MEMA: [email protected]. For more information from the Auto Care Association, call 301-654-6664.
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