Automotive Service Association (ASA) Board of Directors Chairman Scott Benavidez, AMAM, recently testified before the U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce.
During the hearing, titled “Proposals to Enhance Product Safety and Transparency for Americans”, Benavidez explained how the agreement ASA reached with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI) and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) ensures independent repair facilities will continue to have access to the information needed to diagnose and repair issues with their customers’ vehicles. He remarked in his opening statement:
“Although today automotive repairers have access to vehicle data necessary for repairs, our industry has been concerned about the path forward for obtaining data for the vehicles moving into the marketplace. Newer vehicle technologies, with an increasing number of sensors, will present challenges to our shops without access to repair data. That is why, in July of this year, ASA proudly announced it had reached a landmark agreement with automakers that ensures independent repair shops can diagnose and repair their customers’ vehicles without hindrance from telematics nor any other innovation.”
Benavidez also expressed ASA’s appreciation for U.S. Congressmen Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Darren Soto (D-FL) forming and leading the bipartisan Vehicle Data Access Caucus, which helped bring ASA, SCRS and AAI together for talks that ultimately resulted in the right-to-repair agreement.
The agreement resolves concerns regarding the impact of new technologies on data access, establishes a Vehicle Data Access Panel and Data Access Working Group to address gaps in data access, accounts for future vehicle technologies and encourages collaboration on training. Therefore, Benavidez explained to the committee that “the agreement ASA reached with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and SCRS nullifies the need for the REPAIR Act.”
Following the hearing, Benavidez remarked, “It was an honor to testify today before the U.S. Congress. This hearing marks the second time this year I have had the privilege to represent ASA and independent repair shops in a congressional hearing. Our elected officials value ASA’s perspective because our membership enables ASA to speak on behalf of the industry as one united voice. ASA prioritizes working to make sure the government factors in the interests of independent repairers when creating policies that would impact us.”
ASA thanks Chairman Bilirakis (R-FL) for providing ASA the opportunity to share the perspective of independent automotive repair shops before the subcommittee and for the thoughtful comments from the subcommittee members.
For more information on ASA, visit ASAshop.org.
