The EU Data Act (Regulation (EU) 2023/2854) is the European law that gives the user of a connected product — vehicles included — the right to access the data the product generates and to share it with a third-party provider of their choice. It has applied since 12 September 2025; the specific obligations for vehicle data become fully operational in September 2026.
What changes
Previously, access to a vehicle’s data depended on commercial agreements with the manufacturer. Under the EU Data Act, the data follows the user, not the manufacturer: the fleet’s owner or operator can ask for the data to be sent to the provider they prefer, on fair and transparent terms. This is the principle that turns hardware-free fleet tracking into an enforceable right.
Why it matters for fleets
For a fleet manager it means being able to choose the management platform without being locked into the manufacturer’s ecosystem, enabling data access via Cloud OEM. For how to apply it in practice, see what the EU Data Act means for fleets and the one-year review.
FAQ
Does the EU Data Act only concern cars?
No. It applies to all connected products and their related services. Connected vehicles fall in scope because they generate data through sensors and OEM telematics.
What’s needed to exercise the right of access?
The consent of the vehicle’s owner or operator and a request to the manufacturer to share the data with the chosen provider. It’s no longer something the manufacturer grants at its discretion.