Designed to prevent tragedies following a serious a vehicle accident, the eCall system will become mandatory in all new cars from 2018.
However, experts who have already criticised the government for its eCall preparations now warn that police, ambulance and fire services will be swamped with calls and that some are likely to get ignored.
The latest criticism follows prolonged industry concerns about telematics-based access to vehicle data.
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) warn that the fundamental technical in-vehicle structures of eCall can also be used for “commercial applications that go far beyond the emergency call function in the whole of the European aftermarket”.
Such applications include remote vehicle diagnostics and predictive maintenance.
The IAAF say freedom of choice for consumers and the independent aftermarket must be protected.
A number of VMs are already offering eCall technology.
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