Abstract: In the last decade, automotive systems changed from traditional mechanical or mechatronical systems towards software intensive systems, because more and more functionality has been implemented by software. Currently, this trend is still ongoing. Due to this increased use of software, more and more data accumulates and thus, has to be handled. Since it was no subject up to now to manage this data with software separatly, we think that it is indispensable to establish a data management system in automotive systems. In this paper we point out the necessity of data management, supported by exemplary scenarios, in order to overcome disadvantages of current solutions. Further, we discuss main aspects of data management in automotive systems and how it could be realized with respect to the very special restrictions and requirements within such a system.