A major coalition, representing automotive dealers, aftermarket and consumers, is calling on the European Union to take on board its proposal for a Secure On-board Telematics Platform (S-OTP) when legislating on access to in-vehicle data.

In a detailed document, “Creating a level playing field for vehicle data access: Secure On-board Telematics Platform Approach”, publishers of technical information, body repairers, dealers and workshops, garage equipment suppliers, tyre manufacturers, road patrols, parts distributors and leasing and rental companies, as well as consumers, provide technical and commercial arguments sustaining their recommendation.

The authors say it is a solution guaranteeing true consumer choice, effective competition and free entrepreneurship in a secure and technology-neutral manner.

With the advent of the connected car, competition now starts in the vehicle where the ability to safely and securely access in-vehicle data, functions and resources determines the quality of the service. The intention of the S-OTP is therefore to ensure that consumers can still choose and rely on service providers, many of them SMEs, to benefit from innovative, competitive and affordable services and products, improving road mobility, safety and sustainability. To do so, independent service providers have to be able to compete with all mobility stakeholders, some of whom might be tempted to act as “gatekeepers” through proprietary access methods to in-vehicle data.

As a solution addressing the challenges of true consumer choice, security and free entrepreneurship in the automotive services sector, the S-OTP is based on some key characteristics, such as:

    Consumer is in full control regarding the access to in-vehicle data;

    A clear separation of duties, with free management of access control for all service providers, including vehicle manufacturers;

    Unmonitored and undistorted communication between in-vehicle services and their respective back ends;

    Independent customer contract/direct consent management and service offering without the interposition of the vehicle manufacturer;

    Standardised access to in-vehicle networks via safe and secure software interfaces enabling bi-directional communication with the vehicle;

    The ability to safely interact with the driver through the vehicles human-machine interfaces.Enabling effective competition in the automotive aftermarket, the S-OTP would benefit consumers and society at large, by:

    Empowering consumers by ensuring their rights on privacy and widening their choice of service providers;

    Boosting innovation and facilitating the digital transformation of mobility and the deployment of a digital ecosystem of services;

    Contributing to the European Union’s path to become a frontrunner in connected and autonomous mobility and related services.

The S-OTP concept is in line with the European institutions’ ambitious goals to foster innovation and legislate in a way that works for the modern economy. The initial concept has been enriched to take into account the increased (cyber-)security requirements, by including certification of service providers and a robust approach to the development of secure applications, which consumers and operators can choose to install in their vehicles.

The coalition of associations has fed this concept into the study conducted by TRL on behalf of the European Commission, and invite the European legislators to take into account this detailed and complete solution (which enables consumers, vehicles and independent businesses to go smarter, safer, greener) when assessing legislative options.

To view the document please click here.