Wialon launches hardware-free fleet data integration

Wialon has launched a hardware-free original equipment manufacturer data integration service for connected fleets, giving fleet operators direct access to vehicle data from more than 20 car and truck brands.

The service combines High Mobility with Wialon's flespi middleware platform to bring manufacturer-sourced vehicle data into its fleet management system without aftermarket telematics hardware. Operators of passenger and commercial vehicles can use data feeds from factory-fitted systems instead of installing additional devices in each vehicle.

The launch marks a broader push by Wialon, the flagship product of software company Gurtam, into a part of the fleet technology market long shaped by manufacturers' control of connected vehicle data. In Europe, that control is set to face greater scrutiny as the EU Data Act becomes enforceable, giving vehicle owners the right to access data from connected vehicles and share it with third-party service providers.

For fleet managers, access to manufacturer data has often been uneven across brands and geographies, with separate portals, varying terms, and restrictions on how data can be used. Independent telematics providers have traditionally filled those gaps with aftermarket hardware, but that approach adds cost, installation work, and potential warranty concerns.

The new integration is designed to remove that layer by collecting data directly from original vehicle systems and normalising it through flespi before presenting it in the Wialon platform. The bridge currently covers more than 20 major brands, including Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Renault.

The rollout extends Wialon's hardware-agnostic model. The platform already supports more than 4,100 device models from over 700 aftermarket hardware manufacturers and is used by more than 2,700 partners to monitor over 4 million vehicles in more than 160 countries, according to the company.

Data access

The change comes as vehicle makers generate increasing volumes of operational, diagnostic, and driver-related data through embedded connectivity. Access to that information has become an important issue for logistics groups, fleet operators, and software providers seeking a single view across mixed fleets of different marques and both older and newer vehicles.

By combining direct manufacturer feeds with support for third-party telematics devices, Wialon is positioning itself as a neutral layer for operators running multi-brand fleets. That could matter for businesses with varied asset mixes, especially where some vehicles already have embedded connectivity while others still rely on aftermarket tracking units.

Market growth estimates underline the stakes. Wialon cited forecasts showing the European automotive telematics market rising from USD $22.5 billion in 2026 to USD $67.5 billion by 2034, reflecting growing demand for software and data services built around connected vehicles.

High Mobility, the data aggregator used in the integration, provides standardised car data through application programming interfaces from more than 20 manufacturers. Flespi, Wialon's middleware layer, is designed to collect, parse, and standardise telematics data from a wide range of GPS trackers and sensors into a common format for software developers and fleet applications.

Ownership debate

The underlying commercial issue is not only technical integration but data ownership. Vehicle manufacturers have historically controlled access to embedded telematics data, in some cases charging for access or limiting how third-party platforms can retrieve and use information from vehicles already connected at the factory.

That has created what many in the sector describe as a fragmented landscape, forcing operators to juggle multiple manufacturer systems or deploy separate hardware if they want a consistent operational view. The EU's new rules are expected to reshape that arrangement by requiring manufacturers to provide access to data generated by connected products, including vehicles.

Aliaksandr Kuushynau, Head of Wialon, framed the move as part of a wider shift in bargaining power between manufacturers and fleet owners.

"For too long, fleet data was a byproduct that owners rarely questioned and rarely truly owned," said Aliaksandr Kuushynau, Head of Wialon. "Today, that data is power. But you can't have power without control. As the EU Data Act levels the playing field, we are moving beyond the era of hardware workarounds. We are guaranteeing that the data belongs to the person who owns the truck, not the company that built it. In 2026, data ownership isn't just a 'nice-to-have' - it is a strategic requirement."

The company's approach also reflects the automotive sector's shift toward software-defined vehicles, where more functions and services rely on digital systems that can be updated and managed remotely. For fleet software providers, access to clean, standardised manufacturer data is becoming increasingly important for delivering maintenance alerts, utilisation reporting, and compliance information through a single platform.

Whether that model becomes widely adopted will depend in part on how consistently manufacturers implement data-sharing obligations and how easily fleet operators can connect mixed fleets across jurisdictions. What is clear is that factory-generated data, once treated as a closed asset inside manufacturer systems, is becoming central to competition in fleet technology.

Wialon said direct original equipment manufacturer integration allows fleet managers to move mixed-brand operations to an independent platform without installing a single wire or risking a warranty.