The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) urged members of the 113th Congress to take bipartisan action now on behalf of every American who owns and operates a car, truck or other motor vehicle. Passage of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act would guarantee that vehicle owners throughout the country have a choice of where they bring their vehicles for repairs, ensuring that vehicle repair is affordable and convenient for all Americans.
"We congratulate those who have taken the oath of office as members of the 113th Congress and ask them to take up the Right to Repair Act immediately to demonstrate their ability to work together on behalf of the American people," said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of AAIA. "On Nov. 6, voters in Massachusetts approved the Right to Repair ballot measure with a historic 85 percent of the vote. Now it is time for Congress to make Right to Repair a reality for all Americans."
When local repair shops are denied access to non-proprietary repair information from the car companies, competition and consumer choice are limited, AAIA claims. Right to Repair levels the competitive playing field for motoring consumers and between new car dealerships and independent repair shops by requiring that car companies provide full, fair access at a reasonable cost to all non-proprietary service information, tools, fault codes and safety-related bulletins needed to repair motor vehicles, AAIA claims.
"Now that Right to Repair is law in Massachusetts, motoring consumers nationwide are looking to their members of Congress to protect their right to safe, affordable vehicle repair by cosponsoring and voting for the Right to Repair Act," said Sandy Bass-Cors, executive director of the CARE. "A national Right to Repair law will ensure that all repair information is equally available to every automotive repair facility so all car owners have the freedom to choose where and by whom their vehicles are repaired."
The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act is designed to protect motoring consumers from a growing and potentially hazardous vehicle repair monopoly by requiring that vehicle manufacturers provide full access at a reasonable cost to all non-proprietary service information, tools and safety-related bulletins needed to repair motor vehicles. The legislation provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets, only requiring them to make available the same diagnostic and repair information they provide their franchised dealers to the independent vehicle repair market. For more information, visit www.righttorepair.org and www.massrighttorepair.com.
