From aftermarketNews Staff & Wire Reports
BETHESDA, Md. – Aaron Lowe, vice president of government affairs for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) testified before the House Small Business Committee Sept. 25 in Washington, D.C., to brief legislators on the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2694). Among the congressional leaders in attendance were Chairwomen Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), along with Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Jason Altmire (D-PA), Yvette Clark (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Bill Shuster (R-PA), and Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA).
During his testimony, Lowe stated that the aftermarket is proud of its service to the American motoring public, but that changes in market dynamics are placing independent shops at a competitive disadvantage because of attempts by car companies to use technology to obtain a competitive advantage for their dealer network, an advantage that dealers have been unable to gain through customer service or price, according to Right to Repair proponents.
Lowe pointed out that the U.S. Congress has already acknowledged the role technology would play in the repair market when they passed the Clean Air Act. The Act requires that car companies equip their vehicles with on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems that monitor emissions systems. In 1990, provisions were added to ensure that on-board computers be accessible without the need for proprietary tools and that any information needed to repair the emissions system be made available to the independent aftermarket. The legislation protects the trade secrets of the car companies but specifies that no information may be withheld if that information had been provided directly or indirectly to the new car dealer.
“The gains made by the Clean Air Act have been tempered in the last several years by the fact that the computers, now being installed on vehicles, go well beyond emissions-monitoring and controlling nearly every function of the vehicle from safety to entertainment. New technologies are coming quickly down the pike that could provide vehicle manufacturers with even more of a competitive advantage when it comes to repairing a customer’s vehicle,” said Lowe.
“Of particular concern for the future is the advent of telematics,” Lowe continued. “Utilizing wireless technology, telematics will permit a vehicle to transmit information from OBD systems to the car company while the vehicle is moving down the road. Information could include fault codes, vehicle mileage and location of the car. Armed with this data, new car dealers will be able to inform the car owner of the need for a particular service and set up an appointment to have that service undertaken at their service bay. The dealer further would have advance knowledge of the vehicle fault, the ability to diagnose that fault and have the tools, parts and information ready to go – before the vehicle has even arrived at the dealer facility. Not only will telematics give the dealer a major marketing advantage, but they also will be able to maximize the efficiency of their service bays.”
It was reported that Lowe in his remarks aimed to make it clear that the aftermarket is not attempting to stop the use of any technology that improves the car owner’s experience, safety or reduces harmful emissions, but rather that once a car owner purchases a vehicle, they should have the right to decide where it is serviced and where any information that is transmitted from the car regarding vehicle diagnosis or repair is sent, whether it is a dealership or a neighborhood repair shop.
