More Details on the May 17 Right to Repair Hearing

Last week, aftermarket representatives convened on Capital Hill to offer their testimonies in the most recent hearing regarding H.R. 2048, the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act. The hearing was held before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection. Shortly after the hearing, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), widely known as the bill’s largest supporter, issued a press release with details of testimony from Aaron Lowe, AAIA’s vice president of government affairs. On the other side of the debate, the Automotive Service Association, which continues to encourage a non-legislative solution to the service information issue and opposes the bill, offered its own statements on the May 17 hearing.

From aftermarketNews.com Staff & Wire Reports

WASHINGTON, DC — Last week, aftermarket representatives convened on Capital Hill to offer their testimonies in the most recent hearing regarding H.R. 2048, the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act. The hearing was held before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Shortly after the hearing, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), widely known as the bill’s largest supporter, issued a press release with details of testimony from Aaron Lowe, AAIA’s vice president of government affairs. On the other side of the debate, the Automotive Service Association, which continues to encourage a non-legislative solution to the service information issue and opposes the bill, offered its own statements on the May 17 hearing.

While legislators debate whether or not to pass the bill, details such as administrative duties are being discussed. One option currently on the table is to have the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) act as the mediator in complaints regarding access to OE service information. According to ASA, during questioning by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), chairman of the subcommittee, the FTC stated it has very limited knowledge or background in the automotive repair industry and lacked the resources to perform this particular task.

Deborah Platt Majoras, chairman of the FTC, testified that the FTC “continues to believe that the best approach to resolve particular disputes between the parties, including the determination of the composition of any governing board (NASTF), should be decided and implemented by industry participants rather than the government. Such an approach is preferable because the parties’ full faith in the board is imperative for it to accomplish the goals of a self-regulatory process, and that full faith would best be obtained by consensus in determining its composition.”

Majoras also told committee members that of the 500 automotive complaints to the FTC in 2006, not one involved automotive service information.

Other automotive professionals who testified at the hearing include: Michael Stanton, vice president of government and international affairs, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and Charlie Gorman, chairman of NASTF.

According to AAIA, it appears likely that HR 2048 will come to a vote by the committee on Thursday, May 25. This vote will determine whether the legislation will continue to be reviewed by Congress this year.

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