Right to Repair Act Allows Small Businesses to Compete on Level Playing Field

BETHESDA, Md., July 20, 2009; Passage of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) will allow small businesses to compete on a level playing field and ensure the long term survival of a competitive automotive repair industry, according to Paul Fiore, executive vice president of the Service Station Dealers of America and Allied Trades (SSDA-AT).

"We often hear members of Congress talk about the challenges facing small businesses and the need to help them compete. Passage of the Right to Repair Act is a chance for Congress to demonstrate their commitment to small businesses throughout the country," said Fiore. "Millions of car owners trust local repair shops to provide affordable and convenient automotive repair service. The Right to Repair Act ensures that these small businesses can compete fairly by requiring equitable access to the tools, software, safety alerts and repair information required to diagnose and repair today's vehicles."

Because vehicles are becoming increasingly sophisticated with virtually every system either monitored or controlled by computers, servicing these vehicle systems to keep them in safe working condition requires ready access to complete and accurate information, tools and software from the car companies. The Right to Repair Act offers protections for vehicle owners and their trusted repair facilities by making it illegal for vehicle manufacturers to withhold information necessary to diagnose, service or repair motor vehicles.

"Many of our members have small businesses that have been in their family for generations. They are not seeking an unfair advantage, nor are they looking for access to the proprietary information protected by the bill. Instead, they are asking Congress to ensure that they are able to compete fairly now and in the future," continued Fiore.

A complete list of Congressional co-sponsors and a copy of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) can be found by visiting www.righttorepair.org.

About Right to Repair:

The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, which was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA), would require car companies to make the same service information and tools capabilities available to independent repair shops that they provide to their franchised dealer networks. The legislation further provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets unless that information is provided to the franchised new car dealers. The bill clarifies the responsibilities of the Federal Trade Commission in enforcing the bill's requirements. For more information about the Right to Repair Act, visit www.righttorepair.org.