Automakers committed to ensuring independent repair shops have needed information to repair vehicles

The program, sponsored by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA), State Senator Jose Peralta (D-Queens), Chair of the Senate Consumer Protection Committee, and Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Queens), Chair of the Assembly Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee, was held at GNYADA’s Center for Automotive Education and Training.

The Alliance and ASA, along with Sen. Peralta and Assemblywoman Pheffer, are working to ensure that independent repair shops have the training needed to repair today’s vehicles and satisfy consumers.

“Automakers are committed to making sure that independent repair shops have all the information they need to be able to repair any vehicle,” said Matthew Godlewski, Vice President of State Affairs for the Alliance. “We know that more than 75 percent of post-warranty vehicle repairs are performed by independent repair shops, and it’s in our industry’s best interest that consumers bringing our products to those repair shops have good experiences.”

Technicians representing nearly one dozen different New York area independent repair shops attended the free training program, which was led by Donny Seyfer, General Director of the Automotive Service Association (ASA).

“Our industry has made great strides with a voluntary solution to information availability concerns. These include training programs like the event in Queens, as well as other education initiatives across the country,” said Ron Pyle, President of the Automotive Service Association. “In addition, repairers have access to the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) to assist with information availability issues. NASTF has been an asset to independent repairers and has a great future.”

“Automakers are committed to making available all of the information necessary for independent repair shops to repair vehicles,” Godlewski said. “We don’t want, however, a government mandate that sounds good on the surface, but is actually an invitation for litigation to get at automaker’s intellectual property.

“The Alliance is very grateful to Sen. Peralta and Assemblywoman Pheffer for their cosponsorship of this training program, and for their continued commitment to work with automakers, dealers and repair shops to ensure that the needs of consumers are met,” Godlewski said.

“In addition to the adverse impact ‘right to repair’ legislation would have on automakers, there are concerns for consumers,” said Godlewski. “The way it’s written now, it would require automakers to release sensitive vehicle security information, such as key codes and engine immobilizer override information. This will compromise vehicle security systems and jeopardizing consumers’ anti- theft insurance discounts.

“Automakers continue to stand ready to work with New York State leaders to ensure that independent repair shops are able to serve auto consumers. We will continue, however, to oppose any legislation with hidden agendas that do not actually serve the driving public’s interest,” Godlewski said.

For more information visit www.autoalliance.org.