VACC Statement: Sharing of Repair Information in the Automotive Industry

MELBOURNE – Dec 21, 2012: VACC has welcomed the release of the Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council (CCAAC) final report into the sharing of technical service and repair information in the automotive industry.

In the Report, CCAAC notes that “there is appetite within the automotive industry to develop an industry-led outcome to improve access to repair information for independent repairers. CCAAC encourages the industry to expedite current processes to develop an outcome within a reasonable period of time that ensures there is an avenue for independent repairers to reasonably access repair information. The viability of the independent repair sector is in the interests of consumers, repairers and manufacturers”.

VACC has been leading the industry-wide discussions on this issue as it affects many VACC members, in particular, independent repairers and automobile dealers.

In September 2011, VACC convened a national ‘Vehicle Service and Repair Information Conference’ and surveyed its 5,300 members. The Conference Report, the Survey results and two Submissions were presented to the CCAAC Inquiry.

VACC notes that the Inquiry, chaired by Colin Neave, AM, widely quoted VACC throughout the Report and that VACC member interests were considered. VACC also notes that the retail automotive industry’s national association, the Australian Motor Industry Federation, was also widely quoted.

Having just received the Report, VACC will consider the CCAAC Inquiry recommendations in detail over the next few weeks and continue to lead the automotive industry discussions on this matter.