Big Government is Fighting for the Little Guy: A Right-to-Repeat Story

The War Over Vehicle Data and Consumer Rights

When it comes to automobiles, the phrase “rich get richer” is quite literally true. However, an unusual coalition of both Republicans and Democrats is stirring the pot, and its main goal is to keep car manufacturers from hoarding personal vehicle data and maintaining exclusive control over repair and maintenance services. Yes, you read that correctly. And, no, it’s not a typo, as this time, government agencies are actually fighting in favor of the little guy – or, in this case, the average American driver.

An Urgent Call to Account for Automakers

According to reports by Ars Technica (1), on December 19, a letter from a group of Senators – led by Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) – was addressed to several major automakers. This was no warm-and-fuzzy love note. Instead, the honchos of Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, Stellantis, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, and Volkswagen were bluntly accused of being selfish money-grabbers for resisting right-to-repair initiatives.

Mending the Divide: For Consumers’ Sake

The Senator-led group highlighted that more than 70% of car parts and services already come from independent outlets (1). Meanwhile, dealer network and supplier ratings continue to lag behind, mostly due to pricing and affordability issues. The Senators call upon automakers to support right-to-repair practices that benefit consumers, enabling them to access and understand vehicle data.

Data Protection or Data Power Trip?

Despite concerns about cybersecurity breaches and privacy risks, most manufacturers claim that sharing sensitive information with third-party entities puts consumers at risk (2). However, by keeping this data to themselves, they are accused of abusing their power and potential customers’ trust. Senate supporters argue that this disparity raises eyebrows, especially as data is already shared openly for commercial purposes.

A Scare-Campaign Gone Wrong

The trade organization known as the Auto Alliance resorted to creating scare-mongering campaigns against voters, suggesting that greater access to vehicle data increases stalking and violence, mostly affecting women (2). These Senators dismiss this warning, pointing out that this sensitive information is already readily shared with insurance companies, provided it benefits the concerned party.

Puzzling Priorities in Play

To put the matter under a microscope, the group sent a multi-part questionnaire with a January 6 deadline for automakers. OEMs are required to clarify their data collection methods, security measures, storage systems, and sharing agreements (3). They should also provide details on potential breaches within the last five years and reveal the allocated budget for anti-right-to-repair lobbying efforts – something no automaker has openly addressed thus far.