Can data privacy concerns spoil the connected-car party?

Data privacy and protection norms are a gray area in most industries today, and automotive is no exception. Most automakers provide options to opt out of unnecessary data sharing but these settings are often buried within menus. Moreover, opting out of data-sharing often comes with trade-offs, mostly requiring to disable useful or desirable features.

A popular adage goes that “data is the new oil.” This is remarkably true for the automotive industry as it stands currently, where always-connected, software-defined vehicles are constantly exchanging data, updating in real-time over the air, and adapting to changing road and traffic conditions. The mobility ecosystem is increasingly employing big-data analytics to gather actionable insights on customer behavior, understand product performance, and gain competitive advantages.