Generally, right-to-repair (R2R) legislation is about supporting fair competition and consumer choice by guaranteeing access to manufacturers' information, tools and parts needed to make proper repairs.
Specifically, though, in the automotive service industry, it's about accessing data.
Newer model vehicles are utilizing cloud data storage, and information is routed to the manufacturer. This means technicians can't directly access data via a vehicle's on-board diagnostics port.
"We're hearing from so many members right now, who can do the repair, but then they can't get the check engine light to come off. … And they have to then take it back to the dealership, which in turn costs more money for the consumer," Roy Littlefield, Tire Industry Association (TIA) vice president of government affairs, said.
TIA held a forum on the subject Oct. 30 prior to the start of the SEMA Show and AAPEX in Las Vegas.
Littlefield noted that around 70% of all vehicle repairs are done by independent shops.
"All we're asking for is the information and the tools," he said. "We just want to continue to do what we've always done: service the general public and continue to fix these vehicles."
The current federal R2R bill has had the most momentum of any version, picking up many co-sponsors and support earlier in the year. In late September, the REPAIR Act received its first hearing, and the bill
passed out of sub-committee Nov. 2.Eric Schneider, SEMA senior director of federal government affairs, said the auto service industry is leading an R2R "global movement."
"I think we're really the tip of the spear," he said. "We've seen some really aggressive anti- competitive things done by some of the auto makers."
Schneider said SEMA has been focused on getting customers involved in understanding the importance of the issue and helping to support it. He added that the legislation is bipartisan and straightforward.
"We're not looking for a monopoly. We just want your business to have a chance to sell parts and be able to repair modified vehicles," he said. "And, you know, you shouldn't have to send it back to a dealer to shut off the check engine light after your business has done the work."
While seemingly a grassroots effort, Littlefield said, the automotive aftermarket holds a lot of power — if it works together.
"If you look at this in this room right now, I bet you if we started breaking down locations we could probably cover most of the congressional districts in Congress," he said during the event. "And that's really the way we're going to beat this thing.
"With all the money being spent by the car manufacturers — we've been able to track up to $80 million that has been spent trying to kill this right-to-repair movement. The only way we're going to beat it is if our legislators hear from you, hear from their constituents, hear from their members."
We agree. It's time for every independent dealer out there to speak up.
