Report argues that restricting telematics access gives manufacturers and their dealers advantages over independent shops, driving consumer affordability issues
According to a new report from consumer advocate U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), automakers are imposing “software-related charges and restrictions” that work to “create competitive advantages for dealerships at the expense of independent options.”
The CAR Coalition, an organization of independent auto parts makers, insurers, retailers and groups, has noted that rising vehicle repair and maintenance costs are a growing pressure point for American households, based on new data from the Trump administration.
This comes as a bipartisan solution, the REPAIR Act (H.R. 1566 / S. 1379), awaits full House Committee on Energy and Commerce Committee markup.
Right to repair solutions, such as the bipartisan REPAIR Act (H.R.1566 / S.1379), would help increase access to affordable car repair options and support consumer choice. The REPAIR Act is backed by 50 co-sponsors across the House and Senate and, just this month, a House subcommittee voted unanimously to advance the bill.
In addition, Bloomberg News recently cited data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, stating that even as some transportation-related costs and overall inflation have cooled, car ownership continues to drive the consumer “affordability squeeze” and that “cars have been one of the big pain points for Americans” as “repair bills have climbed 63% since January 2020.”
PIRG’s report analyzes three ways that restricting telematics access gives manufacturers and their dealers advantages over independent shops.
• Manufacturers can use wireless data to proactively identify vehicle issues before they develop, steering upcoming repairs to authorized dealerships.
• Telematic repair data makes diagnosing and fixing issues easier in ways that cannot be replicated with traditional repair tools available to third parties.
• Some repairs can be conducted remotely using telematic access, raising concerns about whether independent repairers will be able to conduct certain repairs at all as this technology continues to move forward.
Access to the data that vehicles collect is required for an increasing number of repairs, including common parts, such as windshields.
In a poll conducted last year by The Tarrance Group, commissioned by the CAR Coalition, support for vehicle right to repair is strongly bipartisan. More than 83% of Americans support the REPAIR Act, which would create a national vehicle right-to-repair law, ensuring consumers’ right to choose how and where they fix their vehicles.
Other key findings from the survey:
• 98% of respondents said it is important to them to be able to choose where they get their car repaired.
• 89% said car owners should be able to access their own vehicle data.
• 78% said independent repair shops should have access to vehicle data for repairs.
• 72% said automakers should be barred from restricting data access.
• A majority of car owners prefer using independent auto repair shops for vehicle repairs.
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