Decision ensures that car owners have the right to access their vehicle’s repair and diagnostic data for service and repair
Boston—Judge Denise Casper dismissed the entirety of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation’s suit challenging the 2020 Massachusetts Data Access Law on Tuesday. The automakers’ bid to block the Massachusetts Right to Repair law has failed and the law remains in effect. The judge’s written decision is still under seal but should be made available to the public soon.
The 2020 Massachusetts law was the result of a ballot initiative that was approved by 75 percent of voters. The judge’s written decision is still under seal but should be made available to the public soon.
“Today’s ruling is a significant victory for the people of Massachusetts — and all Americans,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “This decision by Judge Casper ensures that car owners have the right to access their vehicle’s repair and diagnostic data, empowering them to make informed choices about maintenance and repairs. It levels the playing field, allowing independent repair shops to compete fairly, which in turn drives down costs for consumers. As car owners, we all deserve the freedom to control and manage the data that’s generated by our own vehicles. This ruling is a crucial step toward fostering greater transparency, affordability, and innovation in the automotive industry for the benefit of all Americans.”
The CAR Coalition, a group of aftermarket parts makers, insurance companies and retailers advocating for a national vehicle right to repair law, also applauded the judge’s decision. The CAR Coalition supports two pieces of legislation in Congress, the REPAIR Act and the SMART Act.
“This is a great win for consumers’ right to repair their vehicles,” said Justin Rzepka, CAR Coalition Executive Director. “Automakers spent untold millions in Massachusetts trying to fight what the people there and elsewhere have clearly said: They want the right to repair their vehicles how and where they want, not be forced to automaker-affiliated dealerships, which limit choice and cost more than independent repair shops. The next step is to make consumer repair rights universal by enacting a national vehicle right to repair law.”
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