California Car Dealers Anxiously Await July Stop-Sale Deadline Due to Domestic Violence Law
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Residents of California may encounter challenges in obtaining new vehicles next month if state lawmakers do not expedite a bill aimed at postponing the rollout of several digital privacy regulations. In the event that the state does not extend its July 1 deadline, every "connected" vehicle in California could become an expensive decoration.
This outcome likely wasn’t the intention of the state's legislative body when it enacted a law in 2024 that, among other consumer electronics privacy measures, mandated automakers to introduce additional barriers against potential electronic stalkers. State legislation now obligates manufacturers of any connected device to enable owners to revoke access to location-tracking services upon providing proof of a restraining order.
According to Automotive News, automakers are jointly informing California that they will not meet the July 1 deadline to implement their new security measures and may not achieve full compliance with the new law until the end of 2026.
As it stands, dealers will have to halt the sale of any connected vehicle (whether new or used) from a manufacturer that has not yet adhered to the law by next Wednesday. California's state legislature is currently drafting a bill (SB 719) to delay the initial measures by one year, extending full implementation to 2031; this would synchronize it with California's new remote kill switch requirement.
This amendment would result in a three-year extension for complete compliance; all provisions are currently slated to be enacted by January 1, 2028.
Given the invasive nature (and potential for exploitation) of modern connected systems, it's understandable why California is pursuing consumer protections. However, it seems that automakers were unable to prepare in time. So, will California’s State Senate act quickly enough to prevent this situation from escalating? There's less than a week remaining, fans.
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California Car Dealers Anxiously Await July Stop-Sale Deadline Due to Domestic Violence Law
New digital privacy protection mandates in California could lead dealers to refuse service to customers next week if the state legislature does not intervene.