Automakers welcome new EU data protection rules

Brussels, 15 April 2016 – The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) welcomes yesterday’s vote in the European Parliament on the EU General Data Protection Regulation.
“This regulation arguably gives us the most modern data protection regime in the world; one that was conceived explicitly to deal with issues arising with regard to connected products and services,” stated ACEA Secretary General Erik Jonnaert.
In the same vein, ACEA recently adopted a statement setting out five principles of data protection to which the industry will adhere. These principles include transparency, customer choice, ‘privacy by design’, data security and the proportionate use of data. ACEA has also just published the industry’s strategy paper on connectivity, which addresses issues such as data protection and access to vehicle data by third parties.
Jonnaert: “Data protection is an issue automakers take very seriously, as we are committed to providing our customers with a high level of protection and maintaining their trust. This is essential if intelligent transport systems and the connected car are to fulfil their potential to contribute towards societal goals such as facilitating traffic management, improving road safety, reducing fuel consumption and bringing down CO2 emissions.”
“However, with these new EU data protection rules in place, we should avoid that national data protection authorities start interpreting this Regulation divergently,” warns ACEA’s Secretary General. “Now that we have one common EU Regulation, different national interpretations should be avoided.”
Notes for editors
- The ACEA Strategy Paper on Connectivity can be found at http://www.acea.be/publications/article/strategy-paper-on-connectivity
- ACEA’s data protection commitment is available on http://www.acea.be/publications/article/acea-principles-of-data-protection-in-relation-to-connected-vehicles-and-se
About ACEA
- The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 14 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco Group, JLR, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group.
- Visit www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on www.twitter.com/ACEA_auto or www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/.
Contact:
- Cara McLaughlin, Communications Director, cm@acea.auto, +32 485 88 66 47.
- Ben Kennard, Content Editor and Press Manager, bk@acea.auto, +32 487 39 21 82
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About the EU automobile industry
- 13.0 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
- 11.5% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
- €374.6 billion in tax revenue for European governments
- €101.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
- Over 7% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
- €59.1 billion in R&D spending annually, 31% of EU total