Lawmakers Frustrated Over Protracted Auto Repair Fight.

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Author: Povich, Elaine S.

Commerce

Fed up with four years of industry negotiations that have gone nowhere, Republicans and Democrats on a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee today served notice to automobile dealers, repair shops and other interested parties that they are ready to proceed with legislation governing automobile repairs. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Barton, who has authored the "The Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act," which would set up a governmental board to oversee sharing of automobile repair information, said while federal legislation is not the answer to all things, "every now and then it's the answer to some things." Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., tried to push the parties toward a solution short of legislation, which all of the witnesses said they wanted to avoid. "A word to the wise should be sufficient," he said. "It would be much cheaper for you to handle this yourselves." The committee did not set a timetable for action, hoping the parties could get together one last time, although its members appeared dubious. "I feel like I'm moderating a fist fight here," said Rep. Charles Bass, R-N.H.

Independent repair shops have long complained that automakers are denying them access to the diagnostic tools needed to evaluate and repair vehicles that contain increasingly sophisticated electronic technology. The two sides have been negotiating for years, but the most recent talks were suspended Sept. 30 without an agreement. Representatives for independent repair shops, automobile parts companies and car manufacturers appeared today before the House Energy and Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee.

Michael Stanton, representing the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, argued that much repair information is already being shared with repair shops and said dealers are no more expensive when it comes to repairs than independent shops. The automobile industry argues that wide dissemination of diagnostic and repair information â€" outside of authorized automobile dealers â€" could compromise proprietary information. The independent repair shops and automobile parts companies argue that they need that technology in order to compete for repair business with dealers and that they do not want to know trade secrets. David Parde, president of the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality, a group representing independent repair shops, said some information is being held back, and some dealers charge more than independents.

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By Elaine S. Povich