On the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, a broad industry and motorist representative coalition calls upon the EU to create a robust regulatory framework for an interoperable in-vehicle telematics platform based on fair competition, independent entrepreneurship, innovation and consumer choice, key principles derived from the Treaty of Rome.

In the highly competitive markets for vehicle sales, servicing and repair, insurance, leasing and rentals, mandated periodic inspection, spare parts and diagnostic test tools, ‘free flow of data’ and interoperability are essential. We stand united in our conviction that competition, innovation, independent entrepreneurship and consumers interests are the fundamental pillars of today’s and tomorrow’s European Union. In the automotive sector, competition in the digital age starts in the vehicle where the quality and accessibility of in-vehicle generated data determines the level of service that can be offered to, and chosen by the consumer. However, the current design of closed telematics vehicle systems controls the flow of data to and from the vehicle and seriously limits competition and innovation on all services and products ‘around the car’.

Our coalition calls upon the European Institutions to create a robust regulatory framework for an interoperable, standardised, secure and safe digital in-vehicle telematics platform. Building the EU of the 21st century starts by holding on to the fundamental principles of fair competition, innovation and entrepreneurship, and freedom of consumer choice. Although in a different shape, these principles should stand as strong as they have for the last 60 years.

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