Your Source for Up-To-Date News and Research on the Collision Repair Industry 

 

click here to subscribe to the FREE INSIGHT Editor's Desk News Alert Email

SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY
Today's News
INSIGHT This Month
INSIGHT Archives
Survey Center
Letter to the Editor

Business Tools
Subscription Information
CSI Reporting
Financial Analysis
IRS Audit Guide

Management/
Technical Info
Market Watch Rates
INSIGHT Inside this month's issue...

Feedback
Letter to the Editor

Scaled-Back Right to Repair Act Introduced Controversial Provisions Eliminated

The new measure, titled "Motor Vehicle Owner's Right to Repair Act 2005," drops several controversial provisions previously contained in H.R. 2735. Provisions eliminated include:

• Private Right of Action
• Parts Information
• Vague Federal Trade Commission Enforcement

"Although the bill has changed significantly, ASA believes that legislation is still unnecessary. Having said that, I commend Chairman Joe Barton for his hard work to draft legislation that is more practical and less onerous for the small business community. This is a different bill than H.R. 2735, and we appreciate Chairman Barton's leadership in this direction," said Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive.

"ASA's service information agreement with the automakers is working, and the voluntary approach is much more effective than a process regulated by the federal government in Washington, D.C. Recognizing that some parts distributors favor government regulation, we believe Chairman Barton has done a good job ensuring that this legislation is less contentious in that regard than previous bills," Pyle added.

In 2002, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers signed a voluntary agreement with ASA to provide the service information needed to repair vehicles to the independent repairer.

"ASA believes the ASA-Automaker Agreement established a permanent framework for the long-term viability of the independent repair industry. Service information is available now through the ASA-Automaker Agreement and the National Automotive Service Task Force," said Pyle. "The ASA board of directors has encouraged us to increase our activity in ensuring the best training possible for repair technicians. We will continue to work with the automakers to ensure that our training opportunities are equivalent to those provided to the franchised new car dealers as outlined in the ASA-Automaker Agreement."

©2005 Collision Repair Industry INSIGHT
All Rights Reserved

FEATURED
LINKS:

INSIGHT Supports the NABC!
Do You?