- Owners say Home Assistant integrations suddenly stopped working after a backend change.
- Critics argue the issue raises questions about who controls data generated by connected cars.
- We’ve asked VW whether the change was intentional and if third-party access will return.
Modern cars can do some pretty remarkable things. They can pre-condition their cabins before you leave work, start charging when electricity rates are cheapest, and even coordinate with your smart home. The catch? Many of those features only work because your vehicle is constantly talking to servers controlled by the automaker. Now, some Volkswagen owners are learning what happens when that connection changes.
Users of the popular open-source Home Assistant platform report that Volkswagen vehicle integrations suddenly stopped working following what appears to be a recent change to the automaker’s authentication system. Home Assistant is a self-hosted smart home platform that allows users to connect and automate everything from thermostats and lights to EV chargers and vehicles.
Read: Everyone Has This In Their Car Now But Fewer People Want It
Volkswagen owners had used it to create automations that went far beyond the company’s official app, including charging only when rooftop solar panels were generating excess power, adjusting charging schedules based on electricity prices, and triggering custom notifications when charging started or stopped. Now, that functionality appears to be dead in the water thanks to VW’s back-end change.
An Advocate Speaks Out
The controversy quickly caught the attention of right-to-repair advocate and YouTuber Louis Rossmann, who argued that the issue isn’t really about Home Assistant at all. “It’s your car. It’s your data,” Rossmann said while discussing the situation. Rossmann also questioned the broader connected-car model used throughout the industry.
“Who decided that the car should have its data sent only to the manufacturer’s server? Them,” he said. Rossman specifically points out that many of the automations Volkswagen owners created through Home Assistant aren’t available through the company’s official software.
We’ve reached out to Volkswagen asking whether the change was intentional, if it was made for security reasons, and whether the company plans to provide an official path for third-party integrations going forward.
History Repeats Itself
This isn’t the first time a clash between automakers and smart-home enthusiasts has made headlines. In 2023, Home Assistant removed support for Mazda vehicles after a developer received a cease-and-desist letter and a DMCA takedown request from Mazda. At the time, Home Assistant criticized the move and pointed to automakers taking a more open approach, including Tesla’s official APIs and Audi’s support for a Home Assistant app.
That’s what makes the Volkswagen situation particularly interesting. Audi, one of Volkswagen Group’s own brands, has previously embraced Home Assistant integration. Obviously, VW did as well. Now, owners find themselves questioning whether access to their vehicle data is slipping through their fingers.
