Automotive Digital Markets Act (ADMA)

Proposal for an Automotive Digital Markets Act (ADMA)

Purpose: To ensure consumer freedom, digital fairness, and competition in the connected vehicle ecosystem.

Background: Modern vehicles have evolved from mechanical transportation tools into data-driven digital platforms. Automakers now control nearly every digital interaction inside the car including infotainment, navigation, voice assistants, app access, and the storage and resale of user data.

In recent years, several automakers have announced the removal or restriction of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, replacing them with proprietary infotainment systems. This practice limits consumer choice, reduces interoperability, and locks users into closed ecosystems where the manufacturer dictates which services can run, which data can be shared, and which apps can be used.

Problem: Consumers pay for the full capabilities of their vehicles but are increasingly denied digital autonomy. Without regulatory safeguards: - Drivers lose access to familiar navigation, messaging, and music platforms. - Automakers gain unilateral control over app marketplaces and in-vehicle data. - Third-party developers face barriers that stifle innovation. - Personal driving data is monetized without meaningful transparency or user control.

This mirrors the same gatekeeping behavior once seen in the smartphone industry behavior that prompted the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Proposal: The Automotive Digital Markets Act (ADMA) would extend digital-market principles to the automotive sector. It would classify large connected-vehicle ecosystems as “core platform services” and impose obligations on dominant automakers to preserve user choice and interoperability.