CARFIX Members Tout Congress For Access to Service Information

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2005 -- At a hearing today before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, members of the Coalition for Automotive Repair and Fair Information Xchange (CARFIX) touted the voluntary, cooperative National Automotive Service Repair Task Force (NASTF) as an alternative to legislation.

In order to deal with issues that may arise with service, training and tool information, the automotive industry established NASTF in 2000. This inclusive, voluntary organization involves automakers, independent repair shop owners, technicians, aftermarket information providers, trainers, aftermarket manufacturers, distributors and others interested in moving the industry forward. It has been highly effective in resolving service related issues between manufacturers and the aftermarket.

At the hearing, Automotive Service Association (ASA) member, Steve Brotherton stated, "ASA believes we have an agreement with the automakers that is working in today's highly technical environment. The NASTF is an industry process allowing us to work together in an environment of problem-solving versus regulation and litigation. Please allow us to continue to move our industry forward, working together. We do not need federal intervention in the service information issue. We should know, we are the beneficiaries of these efforts."

"Historically, about 75 percent of vehicle service and repairs are performed in non-dealer shops. Automakers view these non-dealer shops as important players in providing service to their mutual customers, the driving public," said Mike Stanton, Vice-President of Government Affairs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. "Just as motor vehicles have become more complex, the servicing of them has also become a high technology business requiring skilled, trained technicians and a sizeable investment in diagnostic and repair equipment. For independent repairers to be successful, they need to have access to up-to-date training information and specialized tools as well as service and repair information. Today, all major automakers have websites where independent technicians can access service information."

John Cabaniss, Director for Environment and Energy at the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM) added, "Automakers already make all vehicle service and training information available to independent technicians via the Internet at the same time it is available to dealers. Why do we do this? Because very simply no automaker wants to develop a reputation for producing vehicles that are difficult to repair or which can only be serviced at specific, sometimes inconvenient, locations."

CARFIX continues to support voluntary efforts -- instead of a new federal bureaucracy -- to provide access to service and repair information by independent repair shops as well as all other service providers. Automakers are working and will continue to work with members of the service industry through NASTF to resolve any problems involving motor vehicle repair.

In 2004, out of an estimated 471 million repairs performed by independent automotive repair businesses, NASTF received only 48 requests regarding the availability of service information or access to diagnostic tools. Auto manufacturers have investigated and responded to all of the requests.

The Coalition for Automotive Repair and Fair Information Xchange is committed to providing independent repair shops and all service providers with continued access to automotive repair data. For information, call 1-866-9CARFIX or visit http://www.carfixinfo.com/.