Losing a Private Sphere? A Glance on the User Perspective on Privacy in Connected Cars

Connectivity is one of the major prerequisites of automated driving. Enabled by numerous connected sensors, new cars offer new functionalities, provide higher security levels and promise to enhance the comfort of travelling. However, by connecting a vehicle with its environment, the car becomes more transparent. The integration of the car into a smart grid seems to conflict with the users’ expectation of their car as a private retreat, thus reducing the acceptance and usage adoption of connected cars. This article aims at helping developers and engineers to consider the user’s expectations when designing a connected car. Furthermore, this article reviews and compares recent international surveys on user’s privacy with our own results on the user’s attitude towards connected vehicular services