Auto trade organization gives Bill-273 (Right to Repair) a qualified endorsement

The National Automotive Trades Association of Canada (NATA) has offered its qualified support of a private member’s bill before the House of Commons that, if passed, would address the issue of whether vehicle manufacturers should be providing independent repairers access to tools, training and diagnostic information.
NATA says it remains committed to “negotiating a voluntary agreement” with the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on this issue, “but if that is not possible, we are supportive of, and will work for a well-crafted bill [that] serves all stakeholders.”
In its current form, Private Member’s Bill-273 (Right to Repair) would oblige OEMs to provide independent repairers access to tools, training and diagnostic information.
NATA says it has met with the office of Brian Masse, the MP proposing the bill, “and was given an opportunity to explain NATA’s concerns regarding the bill.”
NATA said the MP assured the group’s representatives that he is “open to making significant changes to the bill in committee as deemed necessary to improve its ability to protect consumer rights, to satisfy the needs of the independent repair industry while dealing with any reasonable reservations on the part of the OEMs.”
The bill was debated on Mar. 5, and the vote on the bill will take place in May.
AIA Canada, a national trade organization representing Canada’s Cdn$16.7-billion automotive aftermarket industry, says the OEMs’ restriction of access to tools, training and diagnostic information effectively creates a market imbalance, because it prevents independent vehicle repairers from working on late-model vehicles.
“Blocked access to OBD (On Board Diagnostics) II information shifted as much as $2 billion in auto repair work to the car company dealer network in 2004,” the AIA says. “The loss of business [for independent repairers] is expected to grow at a significant rate, potentially reaching $3.9 billion by 2010.”