Massachusetts Voters Overwhelmingly Pass Car Right-to-Repair Ballot Initiative

Massachusetts Voters Overwhelmingly Pass Car Right-to-Repair Ballot Initiative

4 years ago
Anonymous $RGO3jP_V_c

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/bvxxq3/massachusetts-voters-overwhelmingly-pass-car-right-to-repair-ballot-initiative

Massachusetts overwhelmingly voted to extend its automobile right to repair law, in a huge win for consumers. Question 1 was the most expensive measure battle in Massachusetts history with the auto industry (and independent repair companies) spending tens of millions of dollars lobbying, according to the Boston Globe. The measure is an essential win for independent mechanics, auto-repair shops, and consumers, as it will require car manufacturers to continue to make diagnostic tools available for years to come.

Under the law, car manufacturers will be required to use an open-data system in cars using telematics. This means mechanics will have access to wirelessly sent repair data—whether they are associated with an official car dealership or an independent shop. While cars currently use a wired connection for diagnostics, there was concern among independent repair professionals that car manufacturers would switch to a wireless system in order to circumvent a 2012 right to repair law that required car dealers make wired repair codes universal.