German Government’s data strategy must be implemented quickly and become the Euro-pean yardstick

    Berlin, January 31, 2021

    VDA welcomes German Government’s data strategy – Germany’s automotive future lies in digitization – Data sharing obligation in-fringes entrepreneurial freedom

     

    The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) welcomes the data strategy adopted by the German Government. It should now be implemented rapidly in order to strengthen German industry in the long term and to lead the way into a successful, digital and connected future.

    “Germany’s automotive future lies in digitization, and data rooms will be a central aspect. The data room for mobility must now be set up quickly and effectively,” explained Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). She added that the connection to European data rooms in the European GAIA X project would show the way forward.

    However, Ms. Müller also drew attention to the principle of voluntary action: “Sharing data creates added value for the future of mobility in our country and it should be voluntary. We reject the idea of a fundamental obligation to share data because that would infringe entrepreneurial freedom and undermine fair competition.”

    The German Government now has to act rapidly, according to Ms. Müller, to enable a promising blueprint for EU projects to emerge in Germany.

    “A regulation should be in place by the summer. In these times of data-driven mobility, Germany cannot afford to wait around. The speed of implementation will be crucial for German industry.”