AAIA, CARE Commit Resources to Ensure Passage of Right to Repair Ballot Question in Massachusetts

BETHESDA, MD – November 10, 2011 – Following last week’s meeting during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW), the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) have announced that they will commit the resources necessary to ensure passage of the Massachusetts Right to Repair question on the state’s 2012 ballot.

“While we are hopeful that the Massachusetts legislature will pass Right to Repair legislation in the coming months, we are committed to the issue and will devote the resources necessary to make sure the ballot initiative is successful,” said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of AAIA. “If Massachusetts lawmakers do not act, the AAIA and CARE boards are committed to making sure the voters of Massachusetts have the ability to decide if Right to Repair becomes a reality in their state.”

The Massachusetts Right to Repair voter initiative would, for the first time, allow consumers to access all of the non-proprietary repair information required to have their vehicles repaired where they choose, at a new car dealership or an independent shop. The proposed law would require that car companies provide independent shops with access to their diagnostic software through a standardized vehicle interface and utilizing a generic lap top, thus leveling the playing field between the big car manufacturers' dealerships and independent, neighborhood repair facilities.  If enacted, the ballot measure will, for the first time, permit all independent shops to obtain affordable just-in-time access to the latest non-proprietary automobile diagnostic and repair information that is currently available to the manufacturers’ dealers and their new car dealerships.

“The people of Massachusetts have expressed their strong support of Right to Repair and their desire to vote on the issue in 2012. In fact, it took only 19 days to far exceed the number of signatures required to get this legislation on the ballot,” said Sandy Bass-Cors, executive director of CARE. “We will make sure the Massachusetts motorists get the chance to vote on this pro-consumer initiative if their state legislative representatives do not act on their behalf and pass the Right to Repair Act.”

The Right to Repair Act was introduced in Massachusetts for the 2011-12 legislative session by Rep. Garrett Bradley (D-Hingham) and Sen. John Hart (D-South Boston) and has over 60 co-sponsors, more support than during the 2009-2010 session.  For more information, visit www.massrighttorepair.com.

About Right to Repair:

The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act protects motoring consumers from a growing and potentially hazardous vehicle repair monopoly by requiring that vehicle manufacturers provide full access at a reasonable cost to all non-proprietary service information, tools and safety-related bulletins needed to repair motor vehicles. The legislation provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets, only requiring them to make available the same diagnostic and repair information they provide their franchised dealers to the independent vehicle repair market.  For more information about the Right to Repair Act, visit www.righttorepair.org and www.massrighttorepair.com.