Automakers and Independent Repairers Urge Keystone Lawmakers to Put the Brakes on So-called 'Right to Repair' Legislation

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2010 The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (Alliance), Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM) and the Automotive Service Association (ASA) jointly urge Pennsylvania legislators to reject HB 2410, the so-called "Right to Repair" bill.

ASA president Ron Pyle stated, "The so-called 'Right to Repair' Act is a solution in search of a problem. Automakers already provide affordable access to the necessary information to diagnose and service vehicles. All automakers maintain service information websites and make factory scan tools available to the independent repair community. The information is the same as that provided to franchised dealers and the tools are capable of performing the same functions. By investing in proper equipment and training and subscribing to service information providers, repair shops can gain access to everything they need to repair a motor vehicle of any make or model."

Alliance President and CEO Dave McCurdy said, "For nine years the proponents of this legislation, the CARE Coalition and their aftermarket parts-producing member companies have searched far and wide for a sympathetic legislature to champion their cause. The US Congress and all other state legislators have consistently rejected their claims. No state has ever adopted the so-called 'Right to Repair' legislation." Consumer Reports went so far as to label the legislation "bogus."

AIAM CEO Mike Stanton added, "We believe our customers should be able to seek vehicle repair services wherever reliable and first-rate service is offered. Automakers work very hard to make high-quality cars and trucks, and their reputations could be jeopardized if customers felt they could not go to the service and repair shop of their choosing."

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a trade association of 11 car and light truck manufacturers including BMW Group, Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.

AIAM is a trade association whose member companies include American Honda Motor Corp., American Suzuki Motor Corp., Aston Martin Lagonda of North America Inc., Ferrari North America Inc., Hyundai Motor America, Isuzu Motors America Inc., Kia Motors America, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., Maserati North America Inc., McLaren Automotive, Ltd., Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc., Nissan North America Inc., Peugeot Motors of America, Renault, SA, Subaru of America and Toyota Motor North America. AIAM also represents original equipment suppliers and other automotive-related trade associations.