# Connected vehicle data: disputes in the United States, garage access in Europe > General Motors has reached several agreements in the United States to settle disputes over the collection and sale of drivers' personal data, including a settlement of $220 million. In this context, a global study indicates that monetizing connected vehicle data is generating less than expected, and Ford has presented a privacy commitment governing their use. In Europe, independent workshops' access to vehicle data is still considered insufficient one year after the Data Act, with Germany notably highlighting the absence of a multi-brand digital offering. German repairers have taken this demand to Brussels, while in France Alliance Automotive Group favors pooling to preserve independent operators' ability to intervene. Europe's independent aftermarket sector fears that automakers' control over data and software functions could threaten its business. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 11 events involving Ford, General Motors, Alliance Automotive Group and 1 more, in 4 countries (États-Unis, Allemagne, Belgique and 1 more), followed from 31 October 2026 to 5 November 2026. 32 articles from 20 sources (regulation and tariffs, plants, jobs and earnings); last updated on 5 November 2026 at 15:15. - Status: ongoing - Scope: International - Category: Regulation and tariffs, Plants, jobs and earnings - Countries: États-Unis, Allemagne, Belgique, France - Brands: Ford, General Motors, Alliance Automotive Group, Chevrolet - First detected: 31 October 2026 at 05:03 - Updated: 5 November 2026 at 15:15 - Web page: https://mecapress.com/stories/51-connected-vehicle-data-disputes-in-the-united-states-garage-access-in-europe ## National stories (6) - Germany — 2 country-specific events, 3 articles - United States — 1 country-specific event, 15 articles - France — 1 country-specific event, 4 articles - China — 0 country-specific event, 3 articles - Brazil — 0 country-specific event, 3 articles - Canada — 0 country-specific event, 2 articles ## Reported figures - $220 Million - Millions - $220M - R$ 1,2 bilhão - $3.1 Million ## Sources by country and language - United States: 15 articles, 10 outlets - France: 4 articles, 2 outlets - Brazil: 3 articles, 2 outlets - China: 3 articles, 3 outlets - Germany: 3 articles, 1 outlets - Canada: 2 articles, 2 outlets - South Korea: 1 articles, 1 outlets - Vietnam: 1 articles, 1 outlets **Languages**: English (17), French (5), Chinese (3), German (3), Portuguese (2), Spanish (1), Korean (1) ## Timeline (11 events) ### 31 October 2026 — [General Motors pays $2.9 million to Hawaii drivers over personal data collection](https://mecapress.com/events/672-general-motors-pays-2-9-million-to-hawaii-drivers-over-personal-data-collection.md) General Motors has reached a $2.9 million settlement with Hawaii drivers regarding the unauthorized collection and sale of personal data. 1 sources, 1 articles · Hawaï — États-Unis ### 31 October 2026 — [General Motors pays $220 million to close data dispute](https://mecapress.com/events/125-general-motors-pays-220-million-to-close-data-dispute.md) General Motors has agreed to pay $220 million to end a data-related dispute in the United States, a reminder of compliance requirements for Chinese automakers. 10 sources, 16 articles · Idaho — États-Unis ### 1 November 2026 — [Une étude montre que la vente des données automobiles n'est pas rentable](https://mecapress.com/events/2704-une-etude-montre-que-la-vente-des-donnees-automobiles-n-est-pas-rentable.md) Une étude conclut que la commercialisation des données des véhicules connectés rapporte moins qu'attendu, dans un contexte de pression sur la vie privée des automobilistes. 1 sources, 1 articles · Worldwide ### 2 November 2026 — [Ford lance sa « Privacy Promise » sur les données des véhicules connectés](https://mecapress.com/events/2315-ford-lance-sa-privacy-promise-sur-les-donnees-des-vehicules-connectes.md) Ford présente une promesse de confidentialité encadrant la collecte et l'usage des données générées par ses véhicules connectés et applications. 3 sources, 3 articles · États-Unis ### 2 November 2026 — [Ford promet la transparence sur les données après l'accord de GM](https://mecapress.com/events/2184-ford-promet-la-transparence-sur-les-donnees-apres-l-accord-de-gm.md) Ford annonce un engagement explicite sur la sécurité des données de ses clients, dans le sillage du règlement de 220 millions de dollars conclu par General Motors. 5 sources, 5 articles · États-Unis ### 2 November 2026 — [Les élections américaines pourraient redessiner la politique des véhicules électriques](https://mecapress.com/events/2575-les-elections-americaines-pourraient-redessiner-la-politique-des-vehicules.md) À la veille des élections de mi-mandat, le scrutin pourrait modifier la politique américaine en faveur des véhicules électriques. Ford lance parallèlement un site permettant aux propriétaires de refuser la collecte de données. 1 sources, 1 articles · États-Unis ### 3 November 2026 — [One year after the Data Act, vehicle data access remains insufficient for garages](https://mecapress.com/events/3393-one-year-after-the-data-act-vehicle-data-access-remains-insufficient-for-garages.md) One year after the Data Act came into force, ZDK has drawn a disappointing conclusion for auto repair shops and called for political action. No multi-brand digital service offering is emerging based on available solutions. 1 sources, 1 articles · Allemagne ### 4 November 2026 — [Alliance Automotive Group focuses on resource sharing to help independent workshops](https://mecapress.com/events/4512-alliance-automotive-group-focuses-on-resource-sharing-to-help-independent.md) Faced with the proliferation of electronic control units and the locking-in of electronic functions, Alliance Automotive Group France aims to preserve the ability of independent repairers to intervene while controlling their investment costs. 1 sources, 1 articles · France ### 4 November 2026 — [Caruso study compares vehicle data sharing among automakers](https://mecapress.com/events/4242-caruso-study-compares-vehicle-data-sharing-among-automakers.md) Since September 2025, owners can send their car data to third parties; a Caruso study examines how major automakers enable this in practice. 1 sources, 1 articles · Allemagne ### 5 November 2026 — [The European independent aftermarket is worth €100 billion but fears data control](https://mecapress.com/events/5120-the-european-independent-aftermarket-is-worth-100-billion-but-fears-data-control.md) The independent spare parts sector accounts for 64% of the European market and more than 332,000 workshops. Its future is threatened by the growing control of data and software functions by manufacturers. 1 sources, 1 articles · Not located ### 5 November 2026 — [German repairers plead in Brussels for access to vehicle data](https://mecapress.com/events/5024-german-repairers-plead-in-brussels-for-access-to-vehicle-data.md) A delegation from BIV-Kfz visited the European Parliament in early November to advocate for independent workshops' access to vehicle data. 1 sources, 1 articles · Bruxelles — Belgique, Allemagne --- Cite as: Mecapress, “Connected vehicle data: disputes in the United States, garage access in Europe”, https://mecapress.com/stories/51-connected-vehicle-data-disputes-in-the-united-states-garage-access-in-europe Methodology: https://mecapress.com/methodology