Your connected car knows you. The tussle for that data's hitting high gear

Companies in Europe and beyond are vying for control of the crown jewels of the connected car era: your vehicle’s data.

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Companies in Europe and beyond are vying for control of the crown jewels of the connected car era: your vehicle's data.

The contest is entering a pivotal phase as EU regulators look to hammer out the world's first laws for the ballooning industry around web-enabled vehicles, pitting carmakers against a coalition of insurers, leasing companies and repair shops.

European Commission sources said the EU executive should launch an industry consultation on in-vehicle data this week which could lead to legislation later this year - the first of its kind globally.

Many companies view data as the gold of the new wired world, though for some it's more akin to air or water.

"If you don't have access to data in the future, eventually you'll be squeezed out," says Tim Albertsen, CEO of ALD , Societe Generale's car leasing division, which commands millions of vehicles.