Get Consumer information -> Data storage and services Guide for Volkswagen California Van Third Generation (2015-2024)

Data storage and services

Applies in EU countries where the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union is valid.

Data processing in the vehicle

Your vehicle is fitted with electronic control units. Control units process data that they receive, e.g. from vehicle

sensors, generate themselves or exchange between each other. Some control units are required for the safe

functioning of your vehicle, others support you when driving (driver assist systems), others enable convenience or

additional functions of the Infotainment system.

Personal reference

Each vehicle is identified by a unique chassis number. This vehicle identification number can be traced back to the

current and former holders of a vehicle, e.g. in Germany, through information at the Federal Motor Transport

Authority. There are also other ways to trace the holder or driver using data acquired from the vehicle, e.g. via the

registration number.

The data generated or processed by control units may therefore contain personal data or be supplemented with

personal data under certain circumstances. Depending on the vehicle data that is available, it may be possible to draw

conclusions about your driving behaviour, your location or route and on vehicle use, for example.

Your rights regarding data protection

In accordance with the valid data protection legislation, you have certain rights towards Volkswagen Commercial

Vehicles when your personal data is processed.

You therefore have a free and comprehensive right to information from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and third

parties, e.g. assigned breakdown services or workshops or providers of online services in the vehicle, if these parties

have stored your personal data. If you wish, you may request information on which data about yourself has been

stored for which purpose and from where the data originates. Your entitlement to information also covers the

transfer of data to other authorities.

Further information on your legal rights, e.g. your right to deletion or correction of the data, can be found in the

applicable data protection information on the website of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, including contact details

and information about the Data Protection Officer.

You can have data that is only stored locally in the vehicle read out with specialist help, e.g. in a workshop, possibly

for a fee.

Legal requirements for the disclosure of data

If there are applicable legal regulations, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is obliged to hand over data stored at

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in the required scope in individual cases when requested by state authorities. Such

cases include investigation of a criminal offence, for example.

Public authorities also have the power within the framework of applicable laws to read data from vehicles themselves

in individual cases. They can read information, for instance, from the airbag control unit in the case of an accident, to

help investigate the accident.

Operating data in the vehicle

Control units process data to operate the vehicle.

This includes, for example:

—Vehicle status information, such as speed, deceleration, lateral acceleration, wheel revolutions and indication of

fastened seat belts.

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—Ambient conditions, e.g. temperature, rain/light sensor and sensors for Adaptive Cruise Control.

As a rule, this data is momentary and is not stored beyond the operating time and is only processed in the vehicle

itself. Control units often contain data memories, among other things for customisation of settings via the vehicle

key. They are used to allow information regarding the vehicle status, component load levels, servicing requirements,

technical events and faults to be recorded on a temporary or permanent basis.

The following are stored according to the technical equipment:

—Operating states of system components, e.g. fill levels, tyre pressure, status of the 12-volt vehicle battery.

—Faults or malfunctions in important system components, e.g. lights, brakes.

—System reactions to specific driving situations, e.g. triggering of an airbag, intervention of the stability control

systems.

—Information on events during which the vehicle sustained damage.

In special cases, e.g. when the vehicle has detected a malfunction, it may be necessary to store data that was actually

only momentary.

If you make use of services (e.g. repair services or servicing work), the stored operating data can, if necessary, be read

out together with the vehicle identification number and used. The data can be read from the vehicle by staff in the

service network, e.g workshops, or third parties, e.g. breakdown services. The same applies to warranty cases and

quality assurance measures.

The data is read out exclusively via the legally prescribed OBD connection(on-board diagnosis) in the vehicle→

The read operating data provides a record of technical states of the vehicle or individual components, helps diagnose

faults, meets warranty obligations and improves quality. This data, particularly information about component loading,

technical events, incorrect operation and other faults, will be transferred to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

together with the vehicle identification number for this purpose where applicable. Furthermore, the manufacturer is

subject to product liability. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also uses operating data from vehicle for this, e.g. for

recall campaigns. This data can also be used to check warranty and guarantee claims made by customers.

Event memories in the vehicle can be reset by a service workshop as part of repair or service work or if you request

this.

The event memory should only be read and reset by a correspondingly qualified workshop. Additional information on

the stored data is available from correspondingly qualified workshops.

After a fault has been rectified, the information in the memory pertaining to the fault is deleted. Other memory

content is overwritten on an ongoing basis.

Reprogramming control units

All data for the control of components is stored in the control units. Some convenience functions, such as lane change

flash, single door unlocking and displays, can be reprogrammed using special workshop equipment. If the

convenience functions are reprogrammed, the specifications and descriptions in this owner’s manual will no longer

match the original functions. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends that you have the reprogramming

entered into the digital service schedule by a suitably qualified workshop.

Correspondingly qualified workshops have all the relevant information about this type of reprogramming.

Convenience and Infotainment functions

You can store and modify or reset convenience settings(e.g. customisation) in the vehicle at any time.

Depending on the equipment in the vehicle, this includes, for example:

—Settings for seat and steering wheel positions

—Running gear and air conditioning system settings

—Customised settings such as mirror adjustment or background lighting.

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Depending on the equipment selected, you may be able to store your own data in the vehicle’s Infotainment

functions.

Depending on the equipment in the vehicle, this includes, for example:

—Media files for playback of music, films or photos in an Infotainment system.

—Address book data for use with a hands-free system or navigation system.

—Navigation destinations you have entered.

—Data regarding the use of online services.

This data can be stored locally in the vehicle or located on a device that you have connected to the vehicle, e.g.

mobile telephone, USB stick or MP3 player. If this data is stored in the vehicle, you can delete it at any time.

This data is transmitted to third parties only at your request, in particular in relation to the use of online services and

in accordance with your personal settings.

Infotainment system

Depending on the equipment installed, you may be able to store your own data in the vehicle’s Infotainment system.

Depending on the equipment in the vehicle, this includes, for example:

—Media files for playback of music, films or photos in an Infotainment system.

—Address book data for use with a hands-free system or navigation system.

—Navigation destinations you have entered.

—Data regarding the use of online services.

This data can be stored locally in the vehicle or located on a device that you have connected to the vehicle, e.g.

mobile telephone, USB stick or MP3 player. If this data is stored in the vehicle, you can delete it at any time.

This data is transmitted to third parties only at your request, in particular in relation to the use of online services and

in accordance with your personal settings.

Mobile telephone integration

If your vehicle contains the necessary equipment, you can connect your mobile telephone or any other mobile end

device to your vehicle so that you can control this device via the controls integrated in the vehicle, provided the

corresponding functions are available. For example, images and sounds from the mobile telephone can be output

through the Infotainment system. At the same time, certain information is sent to your mobile telephone. This

includes location data and additional general vehicle information, depending on the type of integration. For more

details, refer to the information about display of apps in the Infotainment system.

This enables selected apps on the mobile telephone to be used in the vehicle, e.g. navigation or music player. The

mobile telephone and vehicle do not interact in any other ways than those described here, in particular the device

does not actively access vehicle data. The type of further data processing depends on the app provider. Whether or

not you can adjust settings in this regard depends on the app in question and the operating system of your mobile

telephone.

Online services

If your vehicle is equipped with a connection to a mobile network, your vehicle will be able to exchange data with

other systems. The vehicle can be connected to a mobile network using a transmitter and receiver unit in the vehicle

or using your own mobile telephone. This mobile network connection enables you to use online functions. This

includes various online services and apps provided by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles or other third party providers.

Manufacturer services

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In the case of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles online services, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles describes the

respective functions in a suitable place, e.g. in a separate service description or on a website, and provides the

associated information on data protection law. Personal data may be used to perform online services. To this end,

data is exchanged over a secure connection, e.g. using the designated IT systems of the manufacturer. Any collection,

processing and use of personal data that goes beyond the provision of the service takes place exclusively according to

legal regulations, contractual agreements or the necessary permission.

You can activate and deactivate the services and functions, some of which charge a fee, and, in some cases, also

disable the vehicle’s entire data connection. This does not apply to any functions and services required by law, e.g.

emergency call systems.

Third-party services

If you are able to use online services provided by a party other than the manufacturer, these services are the sole

responsibility of the provider in question and are subject to this provider’s privacy policy and terms and conditions of

use. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has no influence over the content exchanged in these services.

Please refer to the provider in question for information about the type, scope and purpose of the collection and use of

personal data related to third-party services.

WARNING

Incorrect use of the diagnostic interface can cause faults, which can result in accidents and serious injuries.

● Never read out the event memory using the diagnostic interface yourself.

● The event memory should be read only by a correspondingly qualified workshop using the diagnostic interface.

Event data recorder

This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder. The event data recorder’s main task is to record data in

accidents or situations similar to an accident, e.g. when an airbag is triggered or when the vehicle collides with an

obstacle on the road. These data help in analysis of how a vehicle system behaved in these situations. The event data

recorder records data relating to the driving dynamics and the restraint system for a short period of 10 seconds or

less, e.g.

—How various systems in your vehicle responded to the situation.

—Whether the driver and front passenger had their seat belts fastened.

—The extent to which the driver depressed the brake and accelerator.

—How fast the vehicle was travelling.

These data help to obtain a better understanding of the circumstances in the situations where accidents and injuries

have occurred.

Data from driver assist systems are also recorded. In addition to information about whether the systems were

switched on or off, available only to a restricted extent or inactive, it is also possible to determine whether these

functions steered, accelerated or braked the vehicle in the above-described situations. Depending on the vehicle

equipment, these systems include the following:

—Automatic adaptive cruise control.

—Lane keeping system.

—Park Assist.

—Emergency braking function.

The data of the event data recorder are recorded only if a particular accident-like situation occurs. No recordings

occur under normal driving conditions. Audio or video data from the vehicle interior or vehicle surroundings are not

stored. Personal data, e.g. name, gender, age or location of the accident, are not recorded at any time. However, third

parties such as law enforcement agencies can use corresponding means to link the content of the event data recorder

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with other sources of data and thus establish a reference to persons as part of an accident investigation.

Special equipment, access to the legally prescribed diagnosis interface(on-board diagnosis) and switched-on ignition

are required in order to read data out of the event data recorder.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will not access, read out or process data from the event data recorder unless the

vehicle owner, or lessee in the case of leasing, grants their permission. Exceptions to this are contractual or legal

provisions.

Due to its legal product monitoring obligations, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is entitled to use the data for field

monitoring and also for research purposes and quality improvements. For research purposes, Volkswagen

Commercial Vehicles makes the data available to third parties in anonymous form, in other words without any

reference to the individual vehicle, vehicle owner or lessee.

Stickers and plates

Stickers and plates showing important information for vehicle operation are factory-fitted in the engine

compartment and on certain vehicle parts.

—Never remove stickers or plates. They must also remain legible at all times.

—If vehicle parts bearing stickers or plates are removed from the vehicle, replacement stickers or plates with the

same information must be applied properly to the same position on the new parts by a suitably qualified workshop.

Safety certificate

There is a safety certificate on the door pillar which states that all necessary safety standards and specifications from

the transport safety authorities of the particular country were met at the time of production. The month and year of

production and the chassis number may also be listed. Observe notes in the Owner's Manual.

WARNING

Handling the vehicle incorrectly will increase the risk of accident and injuries.

● Observe legal requirements.

● Observe the Owner’s Manual.

NOTICE

Handling the vehicle incorrectly could lead to the vehicle becoming damaged.

● Observe legal requirements.

● Carry out service work in accordance with the specifications.

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Consumer information -> Data storage and services for Your Volkswagen California Van Third Generation (2015-2024)

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