The Right to Repair: A Growing Concern in the Automotive Industry

The right to repair, a concept that has been gaining traction in recent years, is a contentious issue in the automotive industry. The debate centers around whether consumers have the right to access and repair their own vehicles, or if manufacturers should be allowed to control who repairs them.

Recently, Massachusetts passed a law that would require automakers to make repair information available to independent repair shops. However, this move was met with resistance from car manufacturers, including Nissan, General Motors, Ford, Toyota, and Volkswagen. These companies argued that sharing repair information would compromise their intellectual property and put their vehicles at risk.

In response to the backlash, President Biden issued an executive order that excludes the automotive industry from the right-to-repair law. The move was seen as a victory for car manufacturers, but it also sparked concerns among consumer advocacy groups and independent repair shops.

"What's going on here is that big automakers are trying to stifle competition and limit access to repair information," said Nolan Sykes, host of the Wheelhouse podcast. "It's like they're saying, 'We'll fix your car, but only if you use our authorized dealerships.'"

The issue is not just about economics; it's also about safety and security. Independent repair shops are often better equipped to diagnose and repair complex problems, which can be critical in emergency situations.

"The problem is that manufacturers are so focused on their own interests that they're not thinking about the people who really matter – consumers," said Sykes. "They're not thinking about the people who might need to fix their car on the side of the road or in a remote area where there's no access to a dealership."

Ford, for example, paid $4 million to a cybersecurity firm to challenge the Massachusetts law. However, just weeks later, it was discovered that Ford had failed to protect its own data, exposing employee records, customer databases, and finance account numbers.

"The irony is not lost on me," said Sykes. "Ford paid millions of dollars to try to block a law that would have helped consumers, but they ended up failing to protect their own customers' data."

The right-to-repair debate has gained momentum in recent years, with several states passing laws to require manufacturers to share repair information with independent shops. However, the industry's resistance to these laws is strong, and it remains to be seen whether consumers will ultimately have access to the repair information they need.

In the meantime, consumer advocacy groups are urging politicians and state governments to propose new bills that would address the issue. "This is a matter of democracy," said Sykes. "We, as consumers, have the power to demand change. We can contact our representatives, vote, and make our voices heard."

As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, it's likely that the gap between cars and computers will only continue to grow wider. But by making our voices heard, we can ensure that manufacturers are held accountable for their actions and that consumers have access to the repair information they need.

In conclusion, the right-to-repair debate is a complex issue that requires careful consideration. While car manufacturers may argue that sharing repair information would compromise their intellectual property, it's clear that this argument doesn't hold water. The consequences of failure to share this information could be severe, from safety risks to financial losses for consumers.

As we move forward in the automotive industry, it's essential that politicians and state governments prioritize the needs of consumers. By doing so, we can ensure that technology continues to develop in a way that benefits everyone – not just the privileged few.

Shoutouts:

* Louis Rossmann: A right-to-repair activist with a great YouTube channel where he breaks down right-to-repair laws across various industries.

* Give It the Beans: A catchphrase and clothing line designed by Donut Media. Join the Donut Underground to get access to behind-the-scenes content, director's cuts, and more.

Join the conversation:

* Follow Donut on social media @donutmedia

* Follow Nolan Sykes on social media @nolanjsykes

* Contact your representatives at both the state and federal level to express your support for right-to-repair legislation.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Since the car's inception,Americans have loved to fix them.It's been in our blood sincethe dawn of what, The Model T?Not only does knowing how toturn a wrench save us a pennywhen it comes to making repairs,it also helps us understandhow our vehicles work.But these aren't the daysof our great-great granddaddies and grand mommies.Back then, if you needed something fixed,you'd order a new part,install it, and be on your way.Not so much anymore.A couple of cold onesand a little red toolboxaren't gonna get you very far when workingon a modern car.We've all encountered situationswhen we can't make a simple repairbecause it's literallyimpossible for anyone outsideof the car company to fix it.It shouldn't be this hard.Without the language, i.e.impossible to buy technologyto communicate withyour vehicle's computer,you don't stand a chance.Today we're taking a look atwhy manufacturers are bendingover backwards to takeaway customers abilitiesto work on their vehicles,what progress has been made,and if you stick around until the end,we'll talk about how we can fight togetherto demand the right torepair our own vehiclesin the future.(dramatic music)Thank you to Jackery forsponsoring today's video.This is the Jackery Solar Generator 1500.Weighing in at just over 35 pounds,it's designed to give youall the power you need,handling a massive 1800watt hours of capacitywith seven port options.I'm talking three 120-voltAC outlets, two USB-A ports,a USB-C port, as well as astandard 12-volt car port.And with this bright LCD display,you'll have no problemtracking every input,output, and battery reading.And when you're out shootingin the middle of nowhere,like we are, it's perfectfor keeping things runninglike camera batteries and cell phones.It can even power bigger itemstoo, like a full-size fridge.But this isn't your dad'sloud gas-chugging generator.You can charge it up with home outlets,your vehicle's car ports,or if you're really off the grid,you can use the big oldfireball in the sky,which I'm not gonna look at.That's right.You can charge this thingusing Jackery's 100Watts Solarsaga panels.Equipped with their Solar Peak technology,they're designed tomaximize power extraction,allowing you to charge thebattery from zero to 80%within four hours.Very impressive.So stop using thatnoisy old gas generator.Make the switch to electrictoday by clicking the linkin the description below.Now let's power back to the show.(upbeat music)From iPhones to John Deeretractors, X-Box to Facebook,right to repair hasbecome a blazing hot issuein industries around the world.Simply put right to repairrequires original equipment manufacturersto provide consumers, andindependent businesses,the same access to repairdocumentation, diagnostics,tools, service parts, and firmwareas their authorized repair providers.Think about going to an Apple Storeversus going to the guy down the streetthat has the I fix cracked iPhone screens,or even trying to orderthe parts yourself.Now, I don't have to tellyou that right to repairis also a huge deal in the auto industry.Not only are we dealing withcomplex computer systems today,but we often can't evenaccess the gosh dang thingsbecause of stuff like impossibleto remove engine shroudsand lack of specialty tools.Anyone ever tried servicingtheir BMW i8 by themselves?How'd that go?Not very well, did it?The reason this has turnedinto such a poop stormin recent years is becausemany of the biggest companiesin the world want to limit our access.But why?OEM's say that sharingtheir repair informationwill diminish quality,tarnish their reputations,and risk copyright infringements.They've also argued thatconsumers could damage the productor hurt themselves if they attemptto hack these new computer systems.As a result, even if acustomer wanted to tryto fix their ride, manymanufacturers void warrantiesif they get even the slightest whiffof any outside maintenance.(Nolan sniffs)What is that, an oil change?On the other side,independent repair shopsand consumers argue that automakersare keeping this information from usbecause of one reason,money.(cash register dings)I would pull cash out of my wallet,but I don't have any.Companies want to protecttheir authorized providersand force us to pay for repairs.Needless to say, independent repair shopsand consumers are fed upand want the governmentto force manufacturers toshare their product informationwith the general public.Ah, time for some goodold-fashioned, American politics.Get those papers in line.We gotta talk to the ambassador.That's a worst idea then JDSalinger going on vacation,blah, blah, blah.Some reference toplaywrights I don't know.We have to go way backto 1990 to understandhow the right to repair battle began.That year Congress passed theClean Air Act Amendments bill,which required allvehicles built after 1994to contain a computersystem to track emissions.You may know it as OBD1.For the first time manufacturerswere working with rare,expensive technology that the common manhad absolutely no access to.Advocacy groups forindependent repair shopsknew this was gonna be an issue.So they made sure thatthe 1990 bill also saidthat manufacturers had to sharethe new emissions technologywith consumers.The problem was thatas the decade went on,technology rapidly developedand new vehicles beganto rely on their computersfor a hell of a lot morethan just emissions tracking.Traditional diagnosticswent out the window.Throttle by wire, steer by wire,everything was now controlled by the ECUor at least linked to it.And that meant that ifyour engine light came on,it was vague and you didn'tknow what was wrong with it.You needed to pay someoneto plug in their scannerbecause cheap OBD scannersweren't available at the time.Repairing vehicles wasnow a high-tech operation.And there was no lawrequiring car companiesto provide the necessary intelfor computer-based repairsto anyone on the outside.Do you see how this could be a problem?By the time the 2000s rolled around,consumers had had enough.Right to repair was consideredat the federal levelfor years, but it wasn't until 2012,that any real progress was made.That year, Massachusetts passedthe Right-to-Repair bill,which meant that finallycar companies were requiredto provide independentshops the same technologythat their authorizedproviders were given.Hallelujah.(sound echoes)The Massachusetts bill ledto a nationwide memorandumof understanding where everymajor car manufacturer,except Tesla who dodged itbecause they didn't have any dealershipsor technicians outside of their plant,agreed to follow theMassachusetts law as longas advocacy groups for independentmechanics stopped tryingfor more right to repair legislation.At last, there was hopefor a level playing field.But would it last?The fact that I'm asking thatquestion, probably means no.All because one little wordwas excluded from the bill.Telematics.Telematics is the communication technologythat translates informationflowing to and from a vehicle.It's a constant give and take of datawhere your car's informationgets wirelessly transmittedto the manufacturer whilethey're simultaneouslypushing other data like weather forecasts,stock market updates, a tonof stuff back to the vehicle.It's kind of weird.Telematics started in the latenineties, remember OnStar,but the advent of the smartphone,which led to rising consumer expectationfor constant connectivityis what really made thetechnology take off.Obviously it's become amassively important partof making repairs butmanufacturers have exclusive accessto the programs and the devicesrequired to understand it.So once again, independent shopsand consumers don't havethe information they needto make their own repairs.Everyone is rightfully pissed off.Ah, I feel like we'reback in the nineties,Braveheart, baseball, and blatant attemptsby car manufacturers tohide technology from usthrough a loophole in the law.Now, of course, manufacturers saythat by targeting the telematicssystems there's a conflictwith the federal MotorVehicle Safeties Act,which says that OEMs arerequired to protect customersfrom potentially dangerous repairs.When was the last time we heardabout a guy blowing himselfup while changing his alternator?They want consumers tobelieve that this strangleholdis actually helping them.Don't worry, little car customer.We're charging you this muchbecause you could get hurtif you try to fix it by yourself.I can't wait to tell you astory about this a little laterin the video, it is a good one.But first more legislation.In 2020 when a new rightto repair law was proposedin Massachusetts, things gotsignificantly more nasty.Lobbying groups for someof the biggest car makerson the planet tried variousangles of fear-mongeringto sway voters against the bill,including a warning that iftelematics were open-sourced,sexual predators would hackyour personal informationand follow you around town.Wow car lobby, that's whatyou're going to go with?Sex predators?Awesome.Thankfully, the scare tactics didn't work.A whopping 75% ofMassachusettites, Massachusites,Massachusettshin?- Mass holes.- Mass holes.Once again, voted forlandmark legislation.Well done.This time by specificallytargeting telematicsand requiring automakers toprovide an open source systembeginning in 2022.I say good on you Bay Staters, good job.Another step in theright direction is thatin July of this year,the president signed an executive order,which encouraged theFederal Trade Commissionto consider beefing up theiranti-competitive restrictions.And soon after the FTC votedto increase their effortsto punish companies whoviolate right to repair laws.Hey, that sounds pretty good,but I sense another problem.The executive order maysound like a nice winand it kind of is, but when it comesto the automotive industry,we still have plentyto be concerned about.Remember that memorandumautomakers agreed to back in 2012,the one where the companiesagreed to share their intelas long as right to repairadvocates stopped pushingfor more laws?Well, because of that carmanufacturers threatenedto throw a major fit.So the new executive orderexcludes the automotive industry.(Nolan huffs laugh)Yay.As a result, reps fromseveral auto advocacy groupsare saying that the executive orderneeds serious improvement.But any suggested amendments are goingto be tough to come by because of groupslike the Alliance forAutomotive Innovation,a consulting firm that'sbeen paid tens of millionsof dollars by some of theheaviest hitters in the game.We're talking Nissan, GM,Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen.All of them have been challengingthe new Massachusetts lawand fending off similarbills in other states.(sighs)Shocker.That is pretty depressing butI gotta share one funny storythat happened earlier thismonth that's hopefully a signof things to come.So Ford paid $4 millionto a cybersecurity firmto challenge the new Massachusetts bill.The same one that came up withthe sex predator ad campaign.Well on August 15th, a few weeks ago,news broke that a bugwas discovered at Fordand they actually failedto protect their own data.That's right.The very risk they arguedas being the whole reasonthey need to keep theirtelematics private turned outto bite them in the butt.Employee records, customer databases,finance account numbers,a ton of Ford intel was compromised.Man, I would have loved tohave been in the meetingafter that news broke.(explosion sound)All of this legal stuff, money,and politics makes youwonder if this is just goingto keep happening.Will technology continuesto develop so quicklythat this gap in repaircapabilities grows even wider?Will ordinary peopleever have the opportunityto work on their own cars again?Look it's obvious thatthe line between carsand computers is gonnabecome more and more blurredin the coming years.We all want faster, newer, cooler vehiclesand with new car salesat an all time high,the issues concerning right to repairclearly aren't stoppingus from buying them.We can't help ourselvesbut that doesn't meanthat manufacturers shouldn'tbe held accountableor that there's nothingconsumers can do about it.Throughout this glorious history lesson,we've learned that legislationis often decades behindwhen addressing these problems.The new Massachusetts lawand the executive orderwill hopefully lead tomore progress nationwide.But that's only goingto happen if politiciansand state governments proposenew bills in the first place.This is where we actuallydo have some power.We might not be able towork on our cars anymore,but by God, we could still vote.Democracy, contact your representativesat both the state and federal leveland let them know that you want to controlhow your vehicle's datais used and by whom.Remind them that many ofthese all-American companies,ironically have some veryun-American takes on repair laws.You know who you are.The big takeaway as usual is that we gotto make our voices heard.You know, I love buggingstate government officials.So go do it for yourself as well.I got to give a big shoutout to Louis Rossmann.He's a right to repair activistand has a great YouTube channelwhere he breaks down right to repair lawsacross a bunch of different industries.I got a boatload ofinformation from his videos.And if you want to learnmore about this topic,I can't recommend his channel enough.Check him out.I'll leave a link down in thedescription to Louis' channel.New shirt alert.(Nolan laughs)That's stupid.♪ Give It the Beans ♪♪ At Beans ♪♪ Beans ♪You guys can't getenough of our catchphraseand we can't get enough designing clothes.That's why we came outwith our third Give It the Bean shirt.This one's with a can.On the front you got yourGive It the Beans can.And on the rear,you got a gaggle of cans on the backin all different modern styles.That's a little art history joke for you.Very sleek, very street, very, very hip.Get your Give It the Beancan shirt on donutmedia.com.Only 29.98.Give it the beans and get one today.Thank you very much forwatching Wheelhouse this week.Yeah, it's an important issue.And I think more of youshould know about it.If you're a Donut super freak,check out that join button down below,you can join the Donut Underground.You get access to behind the scenes video,director's cuts, a Discord channel,stickers, all that.Follow Donut on allsocial media @donutmedia.Follow me @nolanjsykes.Be kind, see ya next time.