Autopromotec Talks come to an end: the last episode dedicated to Data Access on 25 February in Milan

THE CONNECTED CAR: WHO OWNS YOUR DATA?       
Data Ownership, Access and Use in the Automotive Digital Ecosystem

At the heart of the digital transformation of the automotive sector, the talk “THE CONNECTED CAR: WHO OWNS YOUR DATA?” attempted to throw light on the complex dynamics governing data management in modern vehicles. The interconnection between artificial intelligence systems and connectivity technologies has opened up new opportunities, but also poses crucial questions: who really owns the data generated by each vehicle? And how can they be managed to ensure security, innovation and protection of rights?

The meeting, which took place at the prestigious headquarters of the Automobil Club Milano, brought together experts from different fields - from academic research to law, from the management of the Automobile Register to precision technologies applied to vehicle alignment and diagnostics - to offer a multi-dimensional analysis of a rapidly evolving sector. After the welcome address by AC Milano Vice President Pietro Meda, Professor Fabio Orecchini, Professor of Energy and Environmental Systems at Guglielmo Marconi University and Director of the Car and Mobility Observatory at the LUISS Business School, opens the debate by presenting the innovative concept of the Automobile Sapiens.

Motorist Sapiens: towards a new mobility paradigm

Based on the research “From the Automobile Sapiens, to the Motorist Sapiens - Reactions, expectations and fears towards the car of the new species and analysis of its market penetration”, Fabio Orecchini illustrates how the digital transformation is redefining the role of the motorist.
According to the data collected, a large majority of motorists, with an average age of 34 and an average income of less than Euro 30,000, are ready to embrace the age of smart mobility. After watching an explanatory video, more than 50% of respondents said they would be prepared to accept a vehicle equipped with artificial intelligence systems capable of making autonomous decisions and optimising the everyday driving experience. There is a high level of familiarity with AI technologies: almost 70% of participants claim to have a medium to high level of knowledge, while 75.8% consider the technology to be extremely innovative.
Although based on a product that is still in its infancy, this enthusiasm highlights how the Automobile Sapiens represents not only a technical revolution, but also the forerunner of a new ecosystem: that of data. Each vehicle will become a “digital twin” in which the prompt collection, analysis and use of information will be the engine driving operational functions, safety and the customisation of services.
Data management and ownership are at the heart of the digital transformation in the automotive sector. The speeches by Prof. Al Mureden and Michele Mangano offer a legal perspective and an operational vision, respectively. They outline the challenges and opportunities of an ecosystem in which transparency, security and data regulation are fundamental pillars for the future of mobility.

My Car, My Data? Data ownership between person and market

In his speech to frame this topic from a regulatory point of view, Prof. Enrico Al Mureden - University of Bologna, starts with the assumption that with almost 18 million connected vehicles in Italy - i.e. 45% of the circulating fleet - the Connected Car imposes itself as a Disruptive Technology, which requires an organic regulatory intervention. Connected cars generate and transmit a massive amount of data: information on location, driving style, vehicle diagnostics and, in some cases, biometric data. These elements raise fundamental questions concerning the ownership and use of information:

• Data ownership and control:         
  Although the data are produced by the vehicle, they are intrinsically connected to the user. However, car manufacturers often claim control over them, generating a discussion about who actually holds the rights, the manufacturer or the driver and owner.

• Functional Balance and Personal Rights:
  Data useful for improving mobility services, road safety and traffic efficiency should be highlighted. At the same time, the protection of privacy must be harmonised with the protection of health (Art. 32 Italian Const.) and with the requirements of private economic initiative (Art. 41 Italian Const.), emphasising the social function of data ownership.

• Legal Framework and Interpretative Solutions: 
  European regulation - through the GDPR, the Data Act and the AI Act - aims to ensure protection and transparency in data management, although uncertainties and gaps remain, especially in relation to:

  • Clear and informed consent for the use of data

  • Security and the risk of cyber-attacks

  • Liability for breaches and IT security

  • Commercial use and profiling of users, with possible impact on targeted advertising or sales to third parties

  • Data sharing with public authorities and law enforcement agencies in a delicate balance between public safety and the right to privacy

 
The central question is who holds the data: car manufacturers, drivers or digital service providers. European regulations (GDPR, Data Act, AI Act) aim at ensuring transparency, security and informed consent, but uncertainties remain about profiling, sharing with third parties and liability for cyber-attacks. Possible solutions include shared data management models between car manufacturers, owners and third parties, with clearly defined rights for the end user, as well as the adoption of innovative privacy protection technologies. One possible solution is shared data management with privacy-protecting technologies. As data do not fall into traditional property categories, a legal interpretation capable of connecting the different disciplines, ensuring a balance between the market and the rights of the individual, has become essential.

The art of the perfect trim: 100,000 different models

The automotive sector is characterised by its extraordinary diversity: there are around 90,000 types of vehicles (not including buses and trucks) and every year between 1,000 and 2,000 new models are added as a result of restyling, technological innovations and constructional changes. To ensure safety, efficiency and driving comfort, optimum set-up requires knowledge of at least 47 parameters, ranging from dimensional measurements (such as track width and wheelbase) to toe-in angles, camber, king-pin inclination and other critical indicators.
“Traditionally, the information flow to find this data would follow the manufacturer - dealer - tyre dealer route, a process often characterised by delays and difficulties in updating information quickly. Today,” explains Fabio Boni, General Manager of Fasep, “our company uses “data suppliers” and has launched the Data.fasep.it portal, an innovative platform that allows distributors to access and update technical data on each model virtually in real time, even in the presence of nomenclatural variations resulting from different international markets”.
This digital revolution not only improves the speed and accuracy of updates, but also underlines how the value of information lies in its immediate usability. Having the data integrated into the system, ready to be consulted when needed, is fundamental to ensuring a perfect and reliable set-up. On the other hand, conflicting interests emerge, where manufacturers tend to control access to essential information by selling and protecting data through licensing policies, leaving Fasep to mediate between operational needs and contractual confidentiality.
 
What version do I have? The revision software update

In the modern car world, the move to the Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) concept has shifted the focus from just hardware to the complex software architectures that govern every function of the vehicle. A car today can boast 20 to 50 control units, each with between 2 and 20 million lines of software code - while highly digitalised models, such as some SDVs, can reach the threshold of 100 to 200 million lines. By way of comparison, the cockpit of a Boeing 787 has around 14 million lines of code, highlighting the scale of this phenomenon.
Andrea Cantadori - R&D Senior Consultant, MAHLE Aftermarket Italy - discusses the issues arising from software updates, often carried out in OTA (Over-The-Air) mode. These updates raise crucial questions:

• Compliance and Safety: Does a software update ensure that the car remains compliant with regulations, safe to drive and does not undermine environmental performance?

• System Transparency: How is it possible to check which version of the software is installed in each ECU, and how can users ensure that each update complies with type-approval requirements?

• Responsibility and Controls: In case of unauthorised updates or errors, who is responsible? Currently, it is the manufacturer who must guarantee through internal processes that updates do not alter the type-approved characteristics of the vehicle.

The inspection system in Italy, which annually carries out 16 million inspections in around 9,000 authorised centres, already uses tools such as the scan tool to monitor parameters such as MIL status, readiness tests, recorded mileage and consumption data. However, there is still no standardised method for reading and verifying the software versions of control units, as this information is only made available to selected partners and often for a fee.
Innovative solutions, such as those developed by the MAHLE Group - for example, systems such as ODO SCAN for checking real mileage and E-SCAN for battery health status - represent attempts to fill this gap. However, there remains a need to adopt regulated standards to ensure transparency and safety when updating software, an indispensable element in an era where the value of the vehicle is increasingly defined by its digital component.
The evolution of connected vehicles and the increasing complexity of electronic systems have also opened up new challenges in the car repair sector. Access to diagnostic and repair data, essential for the maintenance of modern vehicles, is today a critical node for ensuring competitiveness, safety and multiple players in the market. In this area, the companies that are involved in diagnostics provide valuable insights.

Accessible data, open workshops: the car repair revolution

Igino De Lotto, Marketing Manager, Texa SpA, highlights how access to connected car data has become a major issue for independent garages in recent years. Since 2018, many car manufacturers have introduced protection systems that limit diagnosis and repair, creating obstacles for the independent market. Today, more than 500 models are equipped with these restrictions, which result in technical and commercial barriers for the independent car repair market.

These restrictions raise a conflict between vehicle cybersecurity and the right to repair, which should guarantee that independent repair mechanics have the possibility to work on any car. In Europe, access to data is not always clear, standardised or inexpensive, whereas in other countries, such as the United States, there are more transparent systems.
For customers, this means less choice and potentially higher costs. Independent garages offer comprehensiveness and flexibility, while official networks follow strict standards. However, with the increase in vehicle technology, the skills required are increasingly advanced, pushing these two worlds towards greater integration.
In order to foster greater competitiveness and ensure that the motorist can choose between OEMs and IAMs, it is crucial to invest in human capital, modern equipment and, above all, in solutions that allow easy and secure access to diagnostic data.  As of July 2024, 12 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are mandatory. This complexity has therefore created new repair needs: cars no longer come to the garage only because of mechanical problems or to carry out ordinary or extraordinary maintenance, but the car repair mechanic must be able to intervene in the presence of a wide range of possible situations.
Investing in training, modern equipment and access to data is essential for the future of independent repair. At Autopromotec, TEXA will showcase solutions to meet these challenges, including new partnerships for secure diagnostics and tools for servicing vehicles, including electric vehicles.
 
Repairers 4.0: the ADAS era is already here

Marco Pozzatello, CEO and Founding Partner, Adas Mobile Group, explains how the introduction of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) has revolutionised the repair industry
ADAS Mobile was created to meet the new needs of the repair sector, which has evolved with the introduction of ADAS systems. This platform offers technical support via app, geolocalises specialised centres, integrates remote diagnosis and offers advanced training. With over 300 service points and an expanding fleet, it guarantees calibrations “where needed, when needed”. The network participates in the definition of standards and supports SERMI certification. ADAM, an AI voice assistant, optimises ADAS calibration using data from more than 40,000 interventions. With the ADAS 2024 obligation, ADAM will be able to support up to 1.5 million vehicles in the first year.

Looking beyond: the windscreen as a key safety element

Roberto Nicolini, Head of Product Management, Nexion SpA, draws attention to a component that has become emblematic of modern vehicles: the windscreen.
The windscreen in modern cars is no longer just a protective glass, but a key element in road safety. In fact, it houses sensors and cameras that are essential for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), made mandatory by European Regulation 2019/2144. These devices help with lane keeping, traffic sign recognition and automatic braking in an emergency.
The cameras can capture up to 60 images per second to monitor the environment and react quickly to dangers. LiDAR sensors, rain and brightness detectors optimise driving by adapting headlights and wipers to external conditions.
More than 1.8 million window breakages occur in Italy every year, and when the windscreen is replaced, the sensors have to be recalibrated. Incorrect calibration can impair the functioning of the ADAS, increasing the risk of accidents. Data sharing between vehicles and infrastructures (V2X) can further improve safety by warning of dangers in real time. In summary, the windscreen has become an advanced technological device, the proper maintenance of which is crucial for safer driving.
Nexion SpA is underlining how important it is that manufacturers make the data required for calibration available in a clear and standardised manner, so that workshops - both OEMs and independents - can take precise action, contributing to an ecosystem in which the safety and efficiency of vehicles are guaranteed even after repair work. Access to diagnostic and repair data is transforming the automotive repair landscape, putting the need for standardisation, transparency and technological innovation at the forefront. The integration of new solutions, from remote diagnosis to assisted calibration, is intended to make independent workshops more competitive, while ensuring greater safety and satisfaction for the motorist.
 
“Data is the new oil”

Stefano Giorgi, Business Development Manager at Gilbarco Italia, comments on how Clive Humby's 2006 quote, the title of his speech, is a concept more relevant than ever, especially in the sector of Italy's 22,187 filling stations. Data today is worth as much as oil. Analysing them helps companies improve efficiency, maintenance and sales strategies. In the service station sector, data management is crucial for understanding customers and optimising prices and services. In Italy with over 22,000 installations and millions of refuelling operations each year, collecting and analysing this information helps to improve the motorist experience.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning can predict fuel demand, reduce costs and optimise maintenance. Technologies such as AVI prevent fraud and improve fleet management, while digital in-car payments make life easier for customers. Dynamic pricing, based on traffic and weather data, also maximises sales and profits. However, the use of data must be regulated to ensure transparency and user protection. Regulations, such as the GDPR, protect consumers and require companies to handle data responsibly. The future of mobility will be increasingly connected, secure and personalised thanks to intelligent information analysis. Innovative solutions such as Orpak's AVI and Gilbarco's AI are redefining the industry, transforming mobility into an increasingly connected and intelligent ecosystem.

The meeting was closed by Renzo Servadei - Autopromotec's CEO - who announced that the 2025 edition will be a not-to-be-missed event for all aftermarket professionals who want to confront the challenges and opportunities of an ever-evolving sector. With an even larger exhibition area and a first-class line-up of innovations, debates and technological solutions, the 30th edition of the biennial will be the best way to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

“At Autopromotec, the connected car is a topic of extraordinary importance, not only for the industry, but also for the motorist.” <said Servadei > “At the trade fair, not only will it be possible to see the evolution of the standards that are being defined and implemented at the moment, but also to touch the tools that manage the software that plays a leading role in this Software Defined Vehicle revolution. The 30th edition is intended to be a forum for debate on all topics that are of the very utmost relevance and importance to the automotive aftermarket. I would like to remind you that this Autopromotec Talks roadshow, which ended with today's meeting, focused on crucial issues such as Sustainability, Made in Italy, Artificial Intelligence and Connectivity. All these topics will be at the very heart of the next edition, the core around which it is designed.”

The event takes place in Bologna, 21-24 May 2025: a unique opportunity to discover the future and present of mobility and the aftermarket.