Australia’s automotive sector is entering a transformative decade driven by connected vehicles, data analytics, and digital ecosystems that are reshaping transport, mobility, and fleet management. InfoAgent’s White Paper – The Road Ahead: Australia’s Automotive Data Landscape in 2030 provides a comprehensive analysis of how vehicle-generated data is redefining business models, regulations, and industry power dynamics.
Connected Vehicles: From Novelty to Norm
By 2031, over 93% of new cars sold in Australia are expected to be connected, aligning with global projections of near-universal connectivity by 2030. Already, more than one million connected vehicles are operating on Australian roads, signalling the start of a data-driven automotive ecosystem. These vehicles continuously collect and transmit information on driver behaviour, location, vehicle health, and environmental conditions.
Data as a New Revenue Stream
The white paper highlights a seismic shift in the automotive industry: data is becoming as valuable as the vehicles themselves. Automakers and technology companies are monetising data across seven key business archetypes – from diagnostics and predictive maintenance to connected infotainment and location-based services. Globally, the monetisation of vehicle data could be worth $250–$400 billion annually by 2030, but the report cautions that many companies are still learning how to extract value from this information.
Fleet and Commercial Adoption Leading the Way
The strongest adoption of connected technology has been in fleets and the commercial vehicle sector. By the late 2010s, 79% of Australasian fleet operators had already implemented or planned telematics systems. Today, that figure has grown even further, with a market value of $2.1 billion in 2024 and forecast growth of 16% CAGR to 2033. Fleets are now using telematics and AI to predict maintenance needs, improve safety, monitor driver behaviour, and optimise routes—cutting fuel use, emissions, and crash rates.
Government Embracing Data for Policy
Australian government agencies are leveraging automotive data for policy and planning. The Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) and iMOVE CRC are using freight and telematics data to monitor congestion, plan rest stops, and shape infrastructure investment. The National Freight Data Hub exemplifies the trend toward data-driven decision-making in public policy and transport management.
Right to Repair and Regulatory Leadership
Australia became the first country outside the US to legislate a “Right to Repair” law in 2022, mandating that automakers share service and repair information with independent workshops. While this currently excludes live telematics data, a 2025 review is examining how to extend access to real-time diagnostics—vital as vehicles become more connected. This places Australia at the forefront of global discussions around fair access to vehicle data and competition in the automotive aftermarket.
Privacy and Ownership Tensions
The InfoAgent paper warns that modern vehicles are effectively “surveillance devices on wheels.” Consumer studies found that seven out of ten car brands collect extensive personal data, including location, voice commands, and in-cabin activity—often with minimal transparency. The Privacy Commissioner has declared vehicle privacy a core safety issue, and upcoming reforms to the Privacy Act will tighten consent and data-handling obligations. Questions over who owns vehicle data—manufacturers, dealers, insurers, or drivers—remain unresolved.
Global Influences and Ethical Challenges
Australia’s automotive data landscape is shaped by global forces:
- Europe leads with strong consumer protections under GDPR and the Digital Markets Act.
- The US is driven by commercial innovation but faces fragmented state regulation.
- China treats vehicle data as a national security matter, enforcing strict localisation laws.
The white paper notes that Australia’s hybrid approach—combining European-style privacy frameworks with US-style innovation—could create a more balanced model if effectively regulated.
Ethically, the expansion of connected data raises new social questions: who can access crash data, how to prevent misuse, and whether digital inequality will widen if only connected drivers benefit from data-based services like usage-based insurance.
Ten Key Findings
- Connected vehicles dominate new sales – 93% by 2031.
- Vehicle data fuels new business models worth up to $400 billion globally.
- Fleet telematics leads adoption, improving safety and efficiency.
- Government embraces vehicle data for planning and freight management.
- New partnerships emerge between automakers, insurers, and tech firms.
- Right-to-Repair laws are reshaping data access and competition.
- Privacy and ownership are the next regulatory battlegrounds.
- International policies are influencing Australian data governance.
- Tangible benefits proven in safety, fuel efficiency, and emissions reduction.
- 5G, AI, and edge computing are the next enablers of data-driven mobility.
Five Critical Insights
- Data is reshaping industry power — control over data equals control over revenue.
- Cross-industry convergence between automakers, tech, energy, and telecoms is essential.
- Regulation can both hinder and enable — smart laws will build trust and innovation.
- More data doesn’t mean more value — success lies in actionable insights, not volume.
- Ethics and transparency will define public trust in connected vehicles.
The Road Ahead
By 2030, Australia’s automotive ecosystem will be dominated by software-defined, connected vehicles integrated into a national data network spanning fleets, infrastructure, and services. InfoAgent’s white paper concludes that while the technological foundations are in place, the future of mobility data depends on how well industry, government, and consumers can balance innovation with privacy, trust, and ethical use.
