Auto Care Association and ASA lead telematics education and research campaigns
Auto Care Association creates telematics education campaign
Plans for the creation of an education campaign on telematics and the connected car for consumers, policymakers and the industry were unveiled today at the Auto Care Association’s board of directors meeting in Bonita Springs, Fla.
Representatives of the Powell Tate public relations agency, hired by the association, presented details of the strategic planning process they will undertake in creating the “playbook” to raise the awareness of the implications of access to vehicle diagnostic data to vehicle owners and the auto care industry. Key deliverables will include consumer, industry and policymaker research, creative development, messaging, audience targeting strategies, advocacy strategy and measurement.
“Our association has identified telematics as its number one priority, and the leadership has authorized the resources necessary for us to step up to the plate and create a strategic communications and advocacy campaign playbook,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “We have every intention of sharing the research findings, strategies and tactics with other stakeholders in the industry and encourage these partners to help raise the awareness and understanding of the realities of vehicle telematics pertaining to diagnostic data access.”
“We must ensure that vehicle owners have the right to direct their vehicle’s diagnostic data to independent repair shops. And we must ensure that the independent aftermarket has the same access to the data as the car companies. If the consumer owns their vehicle, they own the data too, and they should decide where the data is transmitted,” said Hanvey.
ASA mechanical leaders take telematics message to Capitol Hill
ASA’s mechanical leaders recently met with their members of Congress and staff to discuss telematics and new-vehicle technologies. Members of the Automotive Service Association (ASA) updated their representatives on the importance of these new technologies to independent automotive repairers and consumers and the efforts of the automotive industry to work together.
Attendees also heard from Bob Kreeb, division chief, Intelligent Technologies Research Division at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Kreeb outlined NHTSA’s work on telematics, connected vehicles and the ensuing security and privacy implications.
“The federal government has repeatedly called for industry input as they address these new technologies,” ASA Chairman Donny Seyfer said. “To that end, ASA is proud to lead the collaborative effort to assure workable solutions for independent repairers. We firmly believe this kind of collaborative rule making is the most effective way to benefit all stakeholders.”
For those interested in the telematics discussion, ASA plans to host the third annual Technology & Telematics Forum at NACE | CARS 2016 in August. For more information on the program, visit http://www.naceexpo.com/page.cfm/Link=46/t=m/goSection=6.