The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) announced it is adding its support to the Right to Repair issue by urging Congress to pass the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (S 3181 and HR 2057).
“Passage of the Right to Repair Act will ensure that the automotive repair industry remains competitive so that car owners can affordably and conveniently have their vehicles serviced,” said ARA CEO Michael Wilson. “By providing access to all car company repair information and tools, the Right to Repair Act ensures that car owners will be able to use cost effective recycled auto parts and have those repairs performed by someone they choose or to do the work themselves.”
According to the announcement, due to the increasingly complex and technologically advanced electronics that control many vehicle functions, proper diagnosis and repair of these vehicles requires information, parts and tools that manufacturers may not make available to vehicle owners and independent shops. The announcement states, “Without access to critical information, parts and tools, motorists are forced to patronize new car dealerships which may not be convenient or easily accessible to a car owner.”
“The adoption of the Right to Repair Act will allow independent repair facilities and automobile recyclers to compete on a level playing field and foster healthy, fair competition. Our members have to turn customers away everyday who want to use affordable recycled auto parts due to the extensive difficulties in cost effectively obtaining from the vehicle manufacturer the information needed to reinitialize the car’s computer in order to make the part work and complete the repair,” continued Wilson. “Right to Repair would not affect the dealer’s warranty agreement with the vehicle manufacturers and it would not require disclosure of manufacturing processes or trade secrets.”
The Right to Repair Act has bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. The Senate version of the bill (S 3181) was recently introduced by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) and has 4 co-sponsors. The House version (HR 2057) was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA) and currently has 67 co-sponsors.
