A survey found a disconnect between Canadian vehicle owners and the data their cars generate — raising questions about consumer rights, repair access and the future of vehicle maintenance.
The report is part of the Consumer Behaviour Series from the Automotive Industries Association of Canada. Titled Who Has the Right to Repair? Vehicle Owners’ Perspectives on Data Access and Ownership found that Canadians want more control over their vehicle data, but many don’t know who owns it, how it’s used or how it affects their ability to choose where they get their car serviced.
The study, based on responses from more than 2,200 Canadian vehicle owners, found that only 30 per cent believe they currently own the data their vehicle produces. Nearly as many (28 per cent) think the manufacturer owns it, while 17 per cent believe it belongs to the company that developed the technology. But when asked who should own the data, a resounding 74 per cent said it should be the vehicle owner.
Despite this strong preference, 69 per cent of respondents admitted they had never thought about vehicle data ownership before taking the survey. Nearly half (47 per cent) said they would be more proactive with vehicle maintenance if they better understood the type and amount of data their vehicle produces. Most Canadians believe the responsibility for educating the public lies with automakers (81 per cent) and the government (68 per cent).
The issue becomes even more pressing when it comes to telematics systems — onboard technologies that collect and transmit diagnostic data. Only 19 per cent of Canadians had heard the term “telematics” before the survey, yet 56 per cent consider the data collected by these systems to be personal information. And while most vehicles built since 2018 include telematics, only 23 per cent of respondents were aware that manufacturers control this data by default.
This lack of awareness has real-world consequences. Nearly half of respondents (49 per cent) said it matters to them that local repair shops don’t have the same access to telematics data as dealerships.
Support for change is strong. Seven in 10 Canadians back legislation that would require all vehicles with telematics systems to be equipped with a standardized open-access data platform. This would allow independent repair shops to access the same diagnostic data as dealerships, giving consumers more choice and potentially lowering repair costs.
Despite this, awareness of the broader “right to repair” campaign remains low, with only 14 per cent of Canadians saying they had heard of it before the survey. Still, the principles behind the campaign resonate widely. A vast majority (87 per cent) of respondents believe consumers should be able to get their vehicles serviced at any shop they choose. More than four in five (82 per cent) agree that manufacturers should be legally required to share data with independent repair shops. And 73 per cent said they would be less likely to buy a vehicle that could only be serviced at a dealership.
The full report is available from AIA Canada for free to members or $199 to non-members.
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