The increasing connectivity and digitisation of vehicles is currently changing the automotive industry landscape. Specific data that were previously accessed via a physical connection in the vehicle are now more and more accessible remotely. Independently of the model/solution retained to give access to in-vehicle data and resources, the main objective should be to allow customers the freedom to choose which service they desire, meeting their specific needs, in order to ensure open choice for customers. This goes through an open and undistorted competition for the provision of these services. This has been recognised in April 2015 by the legislators in Regulation (EU) 758/2015 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning type-approval requirements for the deployment of the eCall in-vehicle system and amending Directive 2007/46/EC. This Regulation includes provisions regarding an interoperable, standardised, secure and openaccess platform: Recital (16): "In order to ensure open choice for customers and fair competition, as well as encourage innovation and boost the competitiveness of the Union's information technology industry on the global market, the eCall in-vehicle systems should be based on an interoperable, standardised, secure and open-access platform for possible future in-vehicle applications or services. As this requires technical and legal back-up, the Commission should assess without delay, on the basis of consultations with all stakeholders involved, including vehicle manufacturers and independent operators, all options for promoting and ensuring such an open-access platform and, if appropriate, put forward a legislative initiative to that effect." Article 12(2): "Following a broad consultation with all relevant stakeholders and a study assessing the costs and benefits, the Commission shall assess the need of requirements for an interoperable, standardised, secure and open-access platform. If appropriate, and no later than 9 June 2017, the Commission shall adopt a legislative initiative based on those requirements." The open in-vehicle platform is also part of priority area IV of the ITS Directive (2010/40/EU), which calls on the Commission to adopt specifications and standards for linking vehicles with the transport infrastructure. The relevance of the topic had already been highlighted by the European Commission back in 2008 in the framework of the ITS Action plan. Action 4.1 aimed at the "Adoption of an open in-vehicle platform architecture for the provision of ITS services and applications, including standard interfaces. The outcome of this activity would then be submitted to the relevant standardisation bodies". Additionally, the Digital Single Market Strategy provides a wider strategic framework for the digital economy including the connected car, and focusses on providing better access for consumers and businesses to online goods and services across Europe; creating the right conditions and a level playing field for digital networks and innovative services to flourish; and maximising the growth potential of the digital economy to boost industrial competiveness in particular through interoperability and standardisation. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting