A new European Commission project: how the car and insurance industries are affected

The EU is weighing the rules on driver data, putting insurers against carmakers in a fight to monetize digital information.

The European Union has launched a public consultation on possible rules to ensure fair access to driver data, pitting the powerful insurance and car industries against each other in a fight to monetize digital information.

The European Commission said in a call for evidence that more than 85% of new cars in 2018 were connected wirelessly, with more than 470 million connected vehicles estimated to be on the roads in Europe, the United States and China by 2025. .

The EU has already proposed a data act, but it may not be detailed enough for car data management, and an additional measure could standardize data sets and ensure fair access and competition[saidtheEUexecutive[aspusexecutivulUE

The insurance company Europe Europe said that such a measure would be the first of its kind.

Car manufacturers have long held the role of “guardian” in accessing data from cars, such as how fast they are driven, with an increasing amount of information now received via wireless transmission.

Insurers and car repair shops have lobbied in the EU to allow drivers, not carmakers, to decide who can access data directly from their vehicles.

If car manufacturers check the data, they can also check which insurer or other service provider covers the vehicle.

There are around 250 million cars on EU roads

Bringing the driver to the top would mean that all industries are on the same competitive footing, Insurance Europe said.

“We need to regulate this, because you can’t leave it in the hands of car manufacturers,” said Nicolas Jeanmart, Insurance Europe’s head of personal and non-life insurance.

“Each driver should decide what they want to do with their data and whether they want to share it with an external provider, such as an insurer.”

Insurers already offer services to drivers through applications in countries such as the United Kingdom and Italy, but the supply is irregular. It would be easier and cheaper to offer them directly based on car data, Insurance Europe said.

The European Automobile Industry Body ACEA has stated that the European car industry is committed to providing access to vehicle data, but uncontrolled access poses cyber threats, data protection and privacy threats.

“Therefore, any EU legislative framework should keep vehicles and their occupants safe,” said ACEA, adding that it must also ensure that the automotive sector can remain competitive.