Congressional Support for Right to Repair Waning

WASHINGTON, DC, Apr 29 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (The Alliance), the Association
of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM) and the Automotive
Service Association (ASA) cited the progress that has been made in the
almost seven years since Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) facilitated a
service information sharing agreement as the reason for diminished
Congressional support for so called "right to repair" legislation.

Alliance CEO Dave McCurdy stated, "Manufacturers recognize the importance
of the independent repair industry and remain committed to ensuring that
consumers have the option of using the repairer of their choice to service
their vehicles."

Congressional support for the "Right to Repair Act" has diminished as the
voluntary agreement has been implemented. Just this week the legislation
was re-introduced although this time with only two cosponsors.

Today's automotive engineers are using computers in innovative ways to
produce even safer and cleaner vehicles. And while automotive computers
monitor and control everything from airbag safety systems and anti-lock
brakes to GPS systems, fuel economy and emissions controls, they also
require independent repairers to invest in the tools, training and
equipment necessary to properly service these automobiles.

AIAM President and CEO Mike Stanton said, "All information necessary to
service and repair motor vehicles is currently available to independent
repairers. All they need are a credit card and an internet connection to
access this information on websites maintained by every manufacturer
selling vehicles in America today. This legislation does not remedy
problems associated with independent technicians who may simply be
untrained or unsure where to go to assess the repair information for
vehicles that pass through their shop doors."

To help resolve service and repair-related issues independent repairers
are encouraged to work through the National Automotive Service Task Force.
NASTF serves as a forum to identify and resolve gaps involving motor
vehicle repair information and tools. This national, voluntary solution
has proven to be an effective resource for repairers and manufacturers
alike, and over the course of the past eight years, has managed to develop
an effective forum to point independent repairers to the information and
tools they need and to provide a mechanism to report and resolve the few
gaps that remain.

ASA President Ron Pyle added, "ASA is proud of the progress made for
independent repairers relative to service, training and tool information.
The 2002 ASA-Automaker agreement has provided our industry with a model
for information that will ensure repairers have access to the necessary
repair information for the foreseeable future. This model is indicative
of the industry's ability to resolve many important issues in the
marketplace without government intervention when the automotive industry
works together."

The Alliance is a trade association of eleven car and light truck
manufacturers including BMW Group, Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Company,
General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi Motors,
Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen.

The Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM)
represents 13 international motor vehicle manufacturers who account for
36 percent of all light duty motor vehicles produced in the United
States. For more information, please visit our web site at www.aiam.org.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade
association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent
automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international
membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter
groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the
automotive service industry.

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Contacts:
Charles Territo
Auto Alliance
(202) 326-5523

Kim Custer
AIAM
(703) 247-2110

Clarence Mills
ASA
(202) 543-1440

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