The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) is urging passage of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act, according to CEO Michael Wilson. The act has bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress.
The Senate version of the bill (S 3181) recently was introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and has four co-sponsors. The House version (HR 2057) was introduced by Representatives Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and George Miller (D-Calif.) and currently has 67 co-sponsors.
“Passage of the Right to Repair Act will ensure that the automotive repair industry remains competitive so that car owners can affordably and conveniently have their vehicles serviced,” he says. “By providing access to all car company repair information and tools, the Right to Repair Act ensures that car owners will be able to use cost effective recycled auto parts and have those repairs performed by someone they choose or to do the work themselves.”
According to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, the Right to Repair Act seeks to ensure that car owners continue to have a choice on where they have their vehicle repaired, whether it’s an independently owned neighborhood repair shop or a franchised car dealership. The legislation further provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets.
“The adoption of the Right to Repair Act will allow independent repair facilities and automobile recyclers to compete on a level playing field and foster healthy, fair competition,” says Wilson. “Our members have to turn customers away everyday who want to use affordable recycled auto parts due to the extensive difficulties in cost effectively obtaining from the vehicle manufacturer the information needed to reinitialize the car's computer in order to make the part work and complete the repair.
“Right to Repair would not affect the dealer's warranty agreement with the vehicle manufacturers and it would not require disclosure of manufacturing processes or trade secrets.”
ARA represents more than 4,500 auto recycling facilities in the United States and 14 other countries around the world. For more information, visit www.a-r-a.org. For more information about the Right to Repair Act itself, visit www.righttorepair.org.
