Auto Care Association, AASA Launch Industry Initiative in Support of Your Car. Your Data. Your Choice.™ Campaign

Initiative includes company pledge and special award that recognizes organizations leading the fight for vehicle data access and control.

BETHESDA, Md. – March 23, 2020 – The Auto Care Association and Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) today launched an initiative aimed at increasing the independent auto care industry’s support for increased vehicle data access and control for consumers—the issue at the heart of the Your Car. Your Data. Your Choice.™ campaign.

As part of this new initiative, the organizations are asking aftermarket industry executives to become vehicle data champions by signing a company pledge, which commits their company to building awareness of the vehicle data access and control issue through different activities in support of the Your Car. Your Data.™ campaign. The organizations also are looking for the industry’s employees to show their support by signing a petition demanding Congress ensures vehicle data access and control for consumers. 

Newer model cars today are equipped with advanced technologies that enable real-time, wireless transmission of data related to driver behavior, GPS location and car health, including maintenance and repair information. Without control of and direct access to the diagnostic and repair information generated by and which can now be wirelessly transmitted from cars, consumers could face greater inconvenience, increased costs and fewer options for repair and maintenance services for their cars. For the aftermarket, the loss of consumer choice means the likely loss of customers—putting at risk the jobs and livelihoods of the industry’s 4.7 million employees.

“Throughout the duration of the Your Car. Your Data.™ campaign, we’ve had members of our industry reach out to us to see how they could join the fight,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association. “This initiative provides the tools necessary to engage industry employees across the country and catalyze widespread awareness of this urgent issue among our industry and their customers. We need to present a united front if we’re going to be successful in guaranteeing vehicle data access and control for drivers everywhere.”

As part of this new initiative, the organizations also plan to recognize companies that go beyond their commitments to deliver ongoing and multi-faceted employee and consumer engagement activities. During AAPEX 2020, the organizations will present the first Vehicle Data Access and Control Award. Award recipients will have demonstrated leadership, encouraged action, and built advocacy around the vehicle data access and control issue throughout the year.

“We created the Vehicle Data Access and Control Award to show our appreciation for companies that step up, take the reins and help lead our industry’s fight for consumer access to and control of vehicle data and ultimately a competitive landscape,” said Paul McCarthy, president and COO of AASA. “The strength of this movement will come from numbers, and we need the help of everyone in our industry for this fight to be successful.”

Companies that wish to pledge their support as a company should sign the pledge at vehicledataaccess.com. Companies interested in learning more about or applying for the award should visit Auto Care Association's website, or AASA’s website to review the award’s criteria and eligibility and to submit a nomination for consideration. The deadline for submission is Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020.

For more information, visit the association's telematics webpage or aftermarketsuppliers.org/CarData.