Every major automotive manufacturer has installed TCUs in vehicles for years. They act as the primary communication bridge between your vehicle’s internal computer network (the CAN bus) and external cellular networks. While designed to facilitate conveniences like remote starting, emergency SOS responses, and live navigation updates, they also serve a secondary corporate purpose: harvesting user data.
Brian Gregory, Policy Director at The Alliance of British Deivers, was the very proud (and happy) owner of a BMW 335d xDrive until a few weeks ago.
So why has the impressive 335d xDrive gone the journey? Certainly not because of any performance or dynamics deficiencies. Brian picks up the story…
“The reason the 335d xDrive Touring is now history – and I have taken possession of a dynamically (and conceivably inferior performance) 2016 model Audi S4 Avant – lies with changes adopted by the entire automotive industry from 2017-18 onwards.
“Every car from then onwards, almost without exception, is fitted with a TCU (Telemetry Control Unit). This has a stand-alone modem & simcard, with battery backup. Its ostensible primary purpose is to provide the eCall safety function.
“It appears however, its real purpose is to record your every journey, and your driving behaviour during it, in minute detail. The obtained data is fed back to the manufacturer, who in turn then sells it on to third-party data brokers, who resell it to e.g., insurance companies and conceivably in due course to government departments, ready to facilitate imposition of pay-per-mile road pricing.”
Before you scream “I never signed on for that!”, well actually you did, buried in impenetrable legalese somewhere deep in your leasing finance or purchase agreement. You know the sort 15 pages of tiny text that you – at best – glance through before signing, because you simply want to get behind the wheel of your new car.
Brian continues: “How can you disable the TCU? Here in the UK – and doubtless in Europe – you can’t.
“I tried valiantly to get my local BMW main dealer, several independent BMW specialists, & numerous other completely independent coding specialists to do this. All refused point blank; claiming it was impossible without seriously compromising vehicle safety and security, invalidating MoT and/ or insurance cover.
“The latter two allegations are specious and totally untrue. Nevertheless, there is a conspiracy of silence surrounding the issue of the covert deployment of TCU technology.
“Allied to this, and around the same time, manufacturers have been transitioning from a vehicle ownership, to a mobility subscription, model.
“In effect you rent a mobility device with various subscribed functions – already built into the vehicle at manufacture – that can be summarily augmented, altered, or disabled – with little to no reference to you – the customer. BMW started this trend in Europe by trying to make heated seats a subscribed function – until customers revolted. Now (Surprise! Surprise!) it’s being implemented covertly.
“The Body Control Module, which interfaces with the “peripherals”of a modern car: braking system, lights, indicators, etc with the vehicle’s main BUS, is nowadays set up to ensure that every major component has to be configured to properly interface with it. This means proprietary manufacturers’ software and equipment must be used; a restrictive practice that aims to lock independent specialists out of carrying out even routine maintenance tasks and “bakes in” expensive main dealer service charges and parts costs. Even a headlight change after a stone impact or minor bump now costs hundreds of pounds.
“Hence my retrogression to a 2016 model vehicle.
“Car buyers need to mobilise en masse and refuse to accept these unreasonable, surreptitiously imposed terms.
“Contact your local MP. Get him or her to seek a Parliamentary investigation into both: (1) the covert installation of Telemetry Control Units into modern vehicles, and (2) to lobby for a Right To Repair Act – as is in progress in the United States, to outlaw the use of restrictive vehicle maintenance practices (as outlined above) by the UK & European automotive industry.”
ENDS
Author Brian Gregory is the founding chairman and current Policy Director of the Alliance of British Drivers (ABD), a prominent UK-based pro-motoring advocacy group.He originally established the organisation in 1993 under its former name, the Association of British Drivers. He later oversaw its 2012 merger with the Drivers’ Alliance to form the modern ABD.
Operating as a libertarian voice for motorists, Brian campaigns against “an institutionalised war on motorists”. He argues that personal mobility is a fundamental right and strongly opposes policies designed to discourage driving.
For all media enquiries, contact Paul Naylor on 07914 304 504 or email paul@mediaandyou.co.uk
Notes: Founded in 1992, the Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) is the leading organisation promoting the interests and concerns of drivers in the United Kingdom.
The UK has now has more than 42 million drivers – that is a majority; we should stop tolerating the way we are treated by the government and local councils.
Cars, vans and taxis account for 80% of the mileage of all trips in the UK, and over 65% of goods being carried by road. The road network, and the people who use it, are of vital importance to the nation’s economy. Drivers should expect the road network to be improved and maintained to a standard that is fit for purpose. They should be able to use the roads in a safe and responsible manner without being subject to unreasonable charges, restrictions or penalties.
