US vehicle manufacturers launch technical website for trade

US Collision Week reports that The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of Global Automakers launched Equal Access, a resource guide for the automotive repair community.

The associations say the guide and corresponding website were developed to refute false 'Right to Repair' proponent claims that factory tools and service information are unavailable.

The guide is meant to ensure that independent repairers know where they can access these resources at prices comparable to what dealers pay, and provides a comprehensive listing of how to access all diagnostic and service information, factory scan tools, and training information for all car makes and models. The guide will be distributed to independent auto repairers, legislators, and the media and is available online at www.repairshopequalaccess.org. 

"All independent repair shops have the same affordable access as dealers to up-to-date repair information and factory tools, as this report documents," said Dan Gage, spokesperson for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. "There are many ways to obtain tools and service resources, and automakers provide this information directly to dealers, independent repairers, and vehicle owners as well as to third party tool makers and service information websites for use in their own products. Claims that automakers are purposefully withholding these resources from the aftermarket community just don't ring true."

The vehicle manufacturers explained that they have a deep business interest in ensuring that all repairers have access to the resources needed to repair vehicles quickly, accurately, and affordably.

"While dealerships perform most repairs while a vehicle is under warranty, consumers today take 75 per cent of their post-warranty repairs to independent shops," said Annemarie Pender, spokeswoman for the Association of Global Automakers. "Automakers can require dealers to be 'service ready' through their terms of their sales and service agreements. For the aftermarket community, automakers can only provide independent technicians with affordable and equal access to the same tools and service information that dealers have and encourage investment in them."

Supporters of Right to Repair continue to assert, however, that the automakers are still withholding technical information.

"This is exactly the reaction we expected from the auto manufacturers. They don't want this law to pass because they want to continue charging customers more money to have their cars fixed at the dealership," said Art Kinsman, a spokesman for the Right to Repair coalition. 

Over the past several years, manufacturers have agued that the repair information is available for those who want it, but some independent shops either don't know where to find it, or choose not to invest in acquiring it.