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3rd October 2005 - Right to Repair Negotiations Break Down Critical Issues Halt Non-Legislative Agreement Negotiations between aftermarket groups and vehicle manufacturers over the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 2048) concluded without a non-legislative agreement, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) announced today. “While a great deal of progress was made during the negotiations, critical issues that could impact the future viability of the agreement and the ability of independent shops to repair late model highly sophisticated vehicle systems remain unresolved,” stated Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO. Right to repair legislation now being considered by Congress would mandate that car companies make the same information and tools available to the aftermarket that they make available to the new car dealers. Issues that remain unresolved include:
“AAIA and CARE believe that both sides made strong efforts to reach an agreement, the positions of both groups on these issues were too far apart to be resolved,” said CARE President David Parde. “It was our hope that we could avoid legislation, but it is clear that absent a statute, many of the vehicle manufacturers are not going to change their policies that favor new car dealers,” Parde continued. “Although AAIA, CARE and other groups supporting HR 2048 remain open to the future possibility that a deal could reached, at the present time we believe that it is in the best interest of the independent aftermarket and its customers to continue to push for passage of right to repair legislation in order to ensure competition in the vehicle repair and service market, now and into the future,” Ms. Schmatz stated. For more information about the “Right to Repair Act” visit www.RightToRepair.com Source: Right to Repair Press Release
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