On the Dash:
- California dealers should closely track the pending bill, as its outcome could directly affect vehicle sales operations beginning July 1.
- Connected vehicle privacy and access controls are becoming increasingly important consumer concerns and sales discussion points.
- Similar privacy and domestic violence protection requirements could expand to other states, creating additional compliance obligations for dealers and automakers.
A coalition representing major automakers, like GM, Toyota, Hyundai, and VW, has warned that California could suspend new and used vehicle sales starting July 1 unless state lawmakers agree to delay certain provisions of a vehicle technology law aimed at protecting domestic violence survivors.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation said automakers face considerable compliance challenges with certain aspects of the law and urged lawmakers to support pending legislation to extend implementation deadlines.
What prompted the law
California lawmakers advanced the legislation after receiving reports of incidents in which connected vehicle technologies allegedly facilitated stalking and harassment. Legislative analysts cited cases in which women alleged that automakers did not adequately respond when their partners used vehicle technology to track their movements. In one notable case, a vehicle’s connected services allegedly enabled stalking despite an existing restraining order.
The 2024 law requires automakers to establish a process that allows drivers with restraining orders or other documentation to request termination of another driver’s remote vehicle access within two business days. The law also requires vehicles to offer drivers a straightforward way to disable location-sharing capabilities from within the vehicle.
California’s market influence
California accounts for about 10% of U.S. vehicle sales, making it the largest automotive market in the country. Any interruption in vehicle sales could carry significant consequences for automakers, dealerships, and consumers across the state.
The alliance has urged lawmakers and Governor Gavin Newsom to approve the delay measure before July 1 to prevent disruptions to vehicle sales in the nation’s largest automotive market.
Automakers say they have already implemented online systems to terminate connected vehicle access, but they need more time to meet the in-vehicle technology requirements. A bill currently before the California Legislature seeks to delay the deadlines for these technology-related obligations.
