As part of the revised WLTP and RDE test procedures, all new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles must be fitted with an onboard fuel consumption meter (OBFCM) from 1 January 2020. This software records the fuel consumption of a vehicle or the energy consumption of electric or plug-in hybrid cars. From 1 January 2021, all first-time registered vehicles must also be equipped with the OBFCM. From 1 January 2021, car manufacturers must also record the actual consumption data for each new vehicle and send this to the Commission. Corresponding plans have been developed since the 3rd quarter of 2017. The monitoring of consumption data is to be tested for five years and will be incorporated into a specific law by 2030 at the latest. The aim is to minimize the discrepancy between the manufacturers' consumption data and the consumption in daily use and to sanction car manufacturers if the gaps are still too large.
How exactly the data will be transmitted to the Commission has not yet been conclusively clarified. For example, data could be read out via the diagnostic interface during the main inspection and transmitted by the workshop. It would also be conceivable to carry out sample surveys during traffic checks, to limit the data to centrally managed car fleets (e.g. rental cars) or directly by wireless data transmission. Furthermore, it is not yet clear which data will ultimately be published. If data were to be published separately for each model, this would increase transparency enormously and make comparisons possible for consumers. Generally summarized average values would not allow this. In theory, the data collected would also make a CO2 consumption tax possible. However, this is not yet planned.
However, it must be ensured that the data is made completely anonymous in order to prevent the state from monitoring individual persons. It must also be clarified who has access to the collected data and what consequences or sanctions will be imposed if violations are detected.
Related link: EAC posiition paper, Connected Cars - Uniform Rules for the Handling of Vehicle Data for the sake of Consumer Protoection and Welfare.