WASHINGTON, D.C. – For decades, automakers have had a vested interest in making it as difficult as possible for people who purchase their vehicles to fix them themselves or bring them to independent shops for repair or maintenance, as opposed to dealership service departments which are typically far more expensive to deal with.
Unfortunately, a new mandate by the Biden Administration appears to go a long way towards helping automakers achieve their dream of locking out third party repair shops, at least as far as newer vehicles go. The end result? If allowed to stand, this new mandate could make repairs – especially for “smart” cars – significantly more expensive in the near future.
Flying in the face Massachusetts’ so-called Right to Repair law – which requires manufacturers of motor vehicles sold in the state to equip any vehicles that use telematics systems with a standardized open access data platform – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week essentially told automakers nationwide that they don’t need to allow third parties wireless access to vehicles in order to diagnose and repair specific issues.
What this mandate will do is essentially lock out independent auto repair shops and individuals from being able to effectively repair certain problems that newer vehicles may experience, leaving motorists no alternative but to turn to far pricier dealership service centers instead.
The NHTSA cited safety-related reasons for their new regulatory policy, stating concerns over potentially sensitive information being hacked by wireless means; however, this will result in automakers not being required to share access to tools and information required to affect repairs on newer vehicles.
In light of the NHTSA’s Ruling, some are calling for Congress to pass a national version of Massachusetts’ Right to Repair law; it remains to be seen if such a thing comes to pass, or if motorists will have to bite the bullet going forward and leave the repairs of their expensive smart vehicles in the hands of their manufacturers.
Christopher Boyle is an investigative journalist, videographer, reporter and writer for SEARCHEN NETWORKS® as well as other independent news and media organizations in the United States. Christopher works on a wide variety of topics and fields, has been featured in print and online in a variety of publications, from local to national, and helps keep a keen-eye on what’s happening in the automotive world for Auto Buyers Market.