Why Does the ASA Oppose Right to Repair?
Florida's Right to Repair Bill (SB 2890) died in committee last week as it failed to reach a vote before the Florida State Senate session ended for the year. The battle to pass these acts in each state has been uphill as those who wish to prohibit access to important repair information seem to have deep pockets. It's never surprising when similar acts die in other states, but what was very surprising was the ASA's (Automotive Service Association) vehement opposition to Right to Repair Acts in any state they were proposed! Isn't the ASA supposed to be helping independent repair shops? Why would they oppose legislation written expressly to give small shops access to important repair information held closely by major auto manufacturers? Their answer: the "legislation is not necessary and promotes government intervention in indepedent repair facilities." They cite the fact that a Right to Repair law would involve the creation of a conduit between government agencies and repair shops. But such a conduit would only be necessary in instances when the auto makers failed to comply, the rest of the law would simply allow the information to flow.
Every time Right to Repair Act legislation approaches a vote, it seems the ASA launches a campaign to stop it. They maintain a separate website just for political issues, and this site is littered with information urging ASA members to call their elected officials to oppose Right to Repair Acts as they are proposed. I'll stop short of guessing as to their motivations and who is behind them, but it's an issue that deserves some attention in my opinion.
If you're unfamiliar with Right to Repair, it's a drive to compel major automakers to provide access to important repair information that is currently only made available to dealerships initially, with a wait usually amounting to years before independent facilities are allowed access. With the complexity of new car systems, mechanics can't just "figure it out," they need the specs. This information can also be valuable to car owners who want to repair their own vehicles.
Like I said, political issues can be so blah, but it's raining outside so I figured it was a good time to let words fly.
Comments
from my experience the auto manufacturers are not able or willing to maintain the quality and ability of their dealerships. thus all needed information should be disclosed to the owner. additionally the matter would be very much better if the car owner could chose who were able to provide warranty service. this would assure us of a competitive and efficient market.
the idea of right to repair laws is needed right now the dealers have a monopoly and overcharge on everything they can have a profit without rippin customers off
Obviously the manufacturers and the ASA have made a backroom deal to prevent private citizens from working on their own vehicles. This is outrageous.
Excellent article.
I agree on stopping the corporations from restricting individuals from doing their own repairs. We paid fortunes to own the products,should we continue same to maintain what’s ours?
In a nutshell, ASA believes that an effort to obtain repair information in a cooperative manner is preferable to a legislated effort. The problem with ASA’s thinking is that there is no way to enforce the agreement made with automakers, and the livelihoods of thousands of shop owners and technicians hang in the balances. If ASA is wrong, and the OEMs fail to uphold their end of the bargain by making repair information available as promised, we will be years just getting back to square one. Sadly, ASA has been on the wrong side of a number of issues in the auto repair world, especially during the last decade. Coming from the collision repair side, I can tell you that the association has embraced and made itself a friend of insurance companies to the detriment of auto body repair shops it supposedly represents, and its credibility among auto repair shops in general is waning.
David Williams
www.SafeCollisionRepairs.comwww.ConsumersGuideToAutorepair.comwww.AutoRepairResources.com
Yes there needs to be strong legistration to give each owner all information to the vechile that they paid good money for. Stop the monoplyism
we have the right to know
Amen to Stephen and p receputo>I agree with them whole-heartedly and Albert stop the monoplyism!!Why shouldn’t we be allowed the information to our very own vehicles we bought (and paid for in full $4500 for a 2000 Ford Windstar with under 100K miles on it) I have the interest and ability to work on my own and learn how to diagnose the problem w/o an expensive $70+ diagnostic hook-up at the stealership but w/o the info. they have we are stuck gettin ripped off if I want my car to run right. My car was paid for with hard-earned cash-a small fortune for me that I want to maintain and take very good care of but I need the info too! thanx