Auto Aftermarket Sends Letter to Sen. Wellstone Urging Him to Continue to Protect Motoring Consumers by Sticking With His Bill

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 3,2002 -- A letter was sent today to Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) urging him NOT to abandon S. 2617, his bill requiring car manufacturers to stop withholding repair information from independent auto technicians and consumers. The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE), Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA), Service Station Dealers of America and Allied Trades (SSDA), Tire Industry Association (TIA), and the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) sent the multi-signatured letter after a proposed "agreement" was made between the automobile manufacturers and the Automotive Service Association (ASA) last week.

We do not believe that the letter of proposal between the car manufacturers and ASA provides any meaningful protection for consumers, and we intend to pursue our efforts to gain passage of S. 2617 and its companion bill in the House, HR 2735, introduced by Representatives Joe Barton (R-TX) and Edolphus Towns (D-NY) in August 2001," reads the letter to Wellstone.

"Last week, the Automotive Service Association, working independently from the rest of our organizations, signed an agreement with automobile manufacturers to abandon efforts to pass 'The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act.' The proposed 'agreement' stipulates that manufacturers promise to make car repair information available to independent mechanics next year. None of our organizations was consulted on this matter.

"Further, in October of 2001, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade association representing car manufacturers, issued a 'statement of intent' promising to give independent technicians access to all the repair service information that they currently give to their dealers, by January 1, 2003. The statement of intent was not a binding agreement or contract with any party, but rather a public declaration."

The letter notes that since organizations such as CARE, AAA, AAIA, AWDA, Public Citizen, ALOA, AASP, SSDA, TIA, "as well as a growing chorus of U.S. Representatives are calling for the passage of S. 2617 and HR 2735, the manufacturers issue a letter saying they will make their information available by August 31, 2003. This is eight months later than their previous offer."

Last week, Sen. Wellstone's office issued a press release stating that, as a result of the agreement, the Senator no longer believes legislation is necessary.

The automotive aftermarket employs five million people nationwide in more than 495,000 locations.

The following is the text of a letter from David Parde, President of Coalition for Auto Repair Equality, Al Gaspar, President & CEO of Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, Jim Eady, President of Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association, Scott Franzmeier, Executive Director of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Tim McMullen, Government Affairs Manager of Associated Locksmiths of America, Dr. Roy Littlefield, Executive Vice President of Service Station Dealers of America and Allied Trades, and Becky MacDicken, Director of Government Affairs of the Tire Industry Association, to the Honorable Paul Wellstone, U.S. Senate, dated October 2, 2002:

We are writing to you on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of independent auto technicians, wholesale distributors, locksmiths and millions of car owners nationwide to request that you continue your support of S 2617, "The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act" which you introduced June 13, 2002.

For the past several years, the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE), Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), American Automobile Association (AAA), Tire Industry Association (TIA), Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP), Service Station Dealers of America and Allied Trades (SSDA), Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA), Automotive Service Association (ASA) and several national consumer groups, have worked together to see legislation such as the bill you introduced become a reality. This legislation will require car manufacturers to release repair information and not short-change automobile owners.

As you know, automobile dealer repairs can cost up to 20% more than what an independent mechanic or small neighborhood garages charge. These cost increases are largely borne by low-fixed and middle-income consumers as cars built after the mid-1990's rapidly make their way into the used car market.

Last week, the Automotive Service Association, working independently from the rest of our organizations, signed an agreement with automobile manufacturers to abandon efforts to pass "The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act." The agreement stipulates that manufacturers promise to make car repair information available to independent mechanics next year. None of our organizations was consulted on this matter.

CARE, AAIA, AWDA, TIA, ALOA, SSDA and AASP urge you not to abandon your efforts to pass this important legislation. We do not believe that the letter of proposal between the car manufacturers and ASA provides any meaningful protection for consumers, and we intend to pursue our efforts to gain passage of S 2617 and its companion bill in the House, HR 2735, introduced by Representatives Joe Barton (R-TX) and Edolphus Towns (D-NY) in August 2001.

Further, in October of 2001, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade association representing car manufacturers, issued a "statement of intent" promising to give independent technicians access to all the repair service information that they currently give to their dealers, by January 1, 2003. The statement of intent was not a binding agreement or contract with any party, but rather a public declaration.

We have seen only minimal steps taken by the car manufacturers to implement this "statement of intent." Now that organizations such as CARE, AAA, AAIA, AWDA, TIA, ALOA, SSDA and national consumer groups, as well as a growing chorus of U.S. Representatives are calling for the passage of S 2617 and HR 2735, the manufacturers issue a letter saying they will make their information available by August 31, 2003. This is eight months later than their previous offer.

It is apparent the agreement needs an enforcement mechanism. Thus, the legislative remedy you initiated is very much in order. If the automobile manufacturers are serious about the items in the latest offer, then they should not have any reservations about them being legislatively implemented.

Again, we urge you continue your fight for passage of the much-needed S 2617 and HR 2735. We can assure you of our support every step of the way.