By Juan I. Hahn, Head of the Mobility Competence Group (CG)
The digital revolution in the automotive aftermarket is in full swing: artificial intelligence is optimising repair processes, improving customer service and enabling completely new business opportunities. But to realise the true potential of this technology, a solid foundation is needed – a scalable and secure data infrastructure. This is where, for example, Gaia-X, Europe’s pioneering initiative for a sovereign digital infrastructure, comes into play. Here are seven reasons why Data Spaces, according to Gaia-X standards, could be the key to success.
Data sovereignty and data protection: the foundation for trust
At the heart of every digital transformation is a crucial question: who controls the data? In the automotive aftermarket, where information about vehicle performance, maintenance history and customer behaviour is highly valuable, this question is of particular importance. Data Spaces based on Gaia-X standards could revolutionise the way this sensitive data is handled: instead of a black-and-white decision between absolute secrecy and uncontrolled release, such data spaces enable precise control of the data flow.
In addition, data sovereignty would be promoted: companies retain full control over who can see which data. In the future, Car Repair shops, suppliers or other players would be able to share their data more freely and determine who can access which data without having to fear a loss of control. A Car Repair shop, for example, could release anonymised repair data for AI training purposes, while sensitive customer information would remain protected. This granular control would encourage more companies to share data, creating more extensive data sets – a prerequisite for the further development of AI applications.
Interoperability: When systems finally speak the same language
The automotive aftermarket often resembles a Babylonian confusion of languages: different systems, different data formats, incompatible interfaces. Interoperability is essential to enable data flows between Car Repair shops, vehicle manufacturers and parts suppliers. Until now, these data silos have been an obstacle to digital innovation.
In the future, companies should therefore rely on unified standards and interfaces that enable seamless communication between systems and applications from different providers. This would reduce technical barriers and improve efficiency by enabling all parties to access a common language and structure for handling data. For example, Car Repair shops could connect to parts suppliers’ inventory databases, diagnostic tools from different manufacturers could exchange data in compatible formats, and AI models could access standardised data regardless of the source. Such interoperability and a unified data structure are essential for the rapid development of AI applications.
Secure data infrastructure: the digital fortress
In an era when cyber attacks have become a daily threat, secure data spaces act as a digital fortress for sensitive data. Especially in the automotive sector, stakeholders work with customer-related or vehicle-generated data. In the past, security concerns have often slowed down data exchange in the industry. In the future, a trusted infrastructure based on the highest security standards will therefore be needed. This would provide protection against unauthorised data access, cyber attacks, data manipulation or industrial espionage.
Such a robust security framework is particularly important for AI applications that are based on sensitive diagnostic data from vehicle maintenance or customer information. Secure data spaces could guarantee that data is protected and only accessible to authorised persons. This is crucial to strengthening trust in AI applications and facilitating access to important information.
Rethinking cooperation: Stronger together
Innovation in the automotive aftermarket is no longer a single discipline. The future of the market lies in collaborative innovation. The market needs a framework in which different stakeholders can work together and share their knowledge while their interests remain protected. A shared data space would enable joint development of AI-based diagnostic tools, shared databases for predictive maintenance, collaborative training of AI models, or the development of new service concepts based on combined data insights.
Car Repair shops could access insights from parts manufacturers to improve maintenance processes, while manufacturers could share data on wear parts to further develop diagnostic systems. AI-driven innovations enabled by shared data spaces open up new business opportunities that would be difficult to realise on one’s own. Such synergies drive innovation and create added value for all parties involved.
Using resources wisely: achieving more together
Building high-performance AI systems is similar to acquiring a state-of-the-art machinery: costly to implement, complex to maintain, but with enormous potential. However, many smaller Car Repair shops would not be able to make such an investment on their own. Access to this technology could be democratised through a clever sharing model in which data is shared and redundancies are avoided.
AI would become more accessible, as infrastructure costs decrease with shared computing resources. Stakeholders would gain access to larger and more diverse data sets, and the costs of AI development could be spread across several stakeholders. This would be particularly beneficial for smaller Car Repair shops and service providers, allowing them to benefit from AI applications without having to make massive individual investments. Last but not least, the entire market would benefit from faster market introduction of new applications that make businesses more competitive and efficient.
Compliance made easy: Legal certainty as a standard feature
In the complex world of data protection regulations, GDPR compliance often feels like an obstacle course. However, in the automotive industry, compliance with regulations such as the GDPR is non-negotiable. The data space of the future would take these regulatory requirements into account and ensure that all actions are GDPR-compliant. This would minimise legal risks and build customer trust, who could be confident that their data would be processed securely and in compliance.
Specifically, data room initiatives could offer guidelines for data handling, automated compliance checks, transparent tracking of data usage or integrated data protection measures. This regulatory alignment builds trust among participants and customers while reducing legal risks associated with AI implementation. Companies could focus on innovation instead of getting bogged down in regulatory details. This not only creates legal certainty, but also saves valuable resources.
Data quality as a success turbocharger: when quantity meets quality
AI models are only as good as the data used to train them. The larger and more diversified a data pool is, the more powerful the AI model can be. A new type of data space could function like a highly efficient data quality assurance system. It could ensure that AI systems are trained with high-quality data rather than just any data. The data would meet standardised quality criteria, and new data would be automatically validated.
This would make it possible to improve the accuracy of the model or the AI’s ability to capture different scenarios. With data from a wide range of vehicle types and applications, the AI could make more accurate predictions and improve diagnostic quality. Such an approach not only improves data quality but also strengthens competitiveness.
The future of the digital automotive industry
The digital transformation of the automotive aftermarket is no longer a distant vision – it is happening now. In the future, data spaces based on Gaia-X standards could provide the foundation for making this transformation a success. Projects such as Car Repair 4.0 are already demonstrating how standardised data spaces enable the development of innovative AI solutions. Tomorrow’s vehicle maintenance will be more digital, more connected and more intelligent. Those who rely on innovative, shared data rooms in the future are investing in their future-proof status. Because one thing is clear: the European automotive aftermarket needs a sustainable, innovative digital ecosystem that combines data sovereignty and trust in order to survive in the face of international competition.
