California’s latest digital privacy requirements are designed to protect victims of domestic violence from being tracked through connected vehicle technology. While few dispute the law’s intent, automakers say meeting one of its upcoming deadlines is simply not possible.
Unless state lawmakers approve a proposed delay before July 1, dealers across California could be forced to stop selling many new and used connected vehicles. The affected cars would remain on dealer lots until manufacturers comply with the law or the implementation timeline is extended.
The situation stems from legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2024 that introduced new protections for drivers using internet-connected vehicles. The law requires automakers to provide survivors of domestic abuse with new tools to quickly remove another person’s remote access to vehicle services.
Automakers say they support those protections and have already implemented several of the required features. Their concern centers on additional in-vehicle technology requirements that they argue cannot be engineered, tested, and deployed before next week’s deadline.
The Law Focuses On Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors
California enacted the legislation after reports highlighted how connected vehicle features could be used by abusive partners to monitor or harass victims. Modern vehicles often allow multiple users to access location services, remote locking functions, and other connected features through smartphone apps.
Under the law, manufacturers must provide a process allowing someone with a qualifying restraining order or other approved documentation to request that another person’s remote access be terminated. Once a valid request is received, automakers must complete the process within two business days.
The legislation also requires future in-vehicle controls that allow drivers to disable location sharing directly from the vehicle itself. Additional notification features are intended to make owners aware when connected vehicle location services are active.
Automakers Say The Timeline Isn’t Realistic
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents nearly every major automaker selling vehicles in the United States, says manufacturers are already complying with the law’s online access termination process. According to the organization, the remaining software and vehicle integration requirements simply cannot be completed before July 1.
Vehicle development typically begins years before a model reaches production. Changes involving connected services require extensive engineering, validation, cybersecurity testing, and compatibility checks across multiple vehicle platforms and model years.
The group warned that manufacturers whose vehicles do not comply with the upcoming requirements could be unable to continue selling connected vehicles in California if the deadline remains unchanged.
Lawmakers Are Racing To Pass A Delay
California lawmakers are currently considering Senate Bill 719, which would revise the implementation schedule without eliminating the protections established under the original legislation. The proposal would keep the existing process for terminating another person’s connected vehicle access while extending deadlines for certain in-vehicle technologies.
Under the revised timeline, some software-related requirements would move from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027, for older vehicles. Other hardware and system integration requirements would be phased in through the 2031 model year, reflecting the realities of automotive product development.
Supporters of the bill argue the extension gives manufacturers enough time to safely integrate the required features without disrupting vehicle sales. Opponents worry that delaying implementation could postpone important protections intended to help domestic violence survivors.
California’s Auto Market Could Feel The Impact
California remains the largest automotive market in the United States, accounting for roughly 10 percent of all new vehicle sales nationwide. Any disruption affecting dealerships in the state would have significant consequences for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike.
If Senate Bill 719 is approved before the July 1 deadline, most analysts expect vehicle sales to continue uninterrupted while automakers complete the remaining engineering work. Without the extension, dealers could be required to pause sales of non-compliant connected vehicles until manufacturers satisfy the law’s requirements.
The situation highlights a growing challenge facing the automotive industry as connected vehicles become increasingly sophisticated. New consumer protections often require extensive software development and validation, making implementation timelines just as important as the regulations themselves.