MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers issued the following statement in response to the White House’s presidential memorandum, “Lowering the Cost of Living by Promoting the Freedom to Fix.”
“While MEMA understands that there are many different issues active in the landscape of vehicle ownership and use, the Dunn REPAIR Act remains the best, most comprehensive solution to ensure an even playing field for the aftermarket ecosystem, which services millions of vehicles in the U.S. every year. We continue to encourage members of Congress to take action on this important issue to ensure all Americans have access to safe, affordable, high-quality maintenance and repairs wherever they choose,” said Emily Poladian, president of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers.
“Right to repair is an integral issue that has long been a focus of multiple stakeholders in the transportation community. The presidential memorandum of June 29 rightly recognizes that affordable vehicle repairs and consumer choice are important issues.
“However, the document itself focuses primarily on select activities related to emissions systems and does not address the broader challenges facing today’s automotive aftermarket that the Dunn REPAIR Act was designed to solve.
MEMA firmly believes that consumers deserve the ability to choose where they wish to have their vehicles repaired as well as which components can be used to ensure the proper functioning of their vehicle. As vehicles become more software-driven and connected, independent repair facilities and aftermarket manufacturers need access to the information, diagnostics, tools, software, and vehicle data required to service modern vehicles and ensure replacement parts function properly. The Dunn REPAIR Act establishes a modern federal framework that ensures fair access to these resources, preserves consumer choice, promotes competition, and helps keep high-quality vehicle repairs affordable.
“Without these protections, consumers face fewer repair options, independent repair businesses have less ability to compete, and aftermarket manufacturers face growing barriers to developing and supporting competitive replacement parts for today’s vehicles. MEMA remains committed to working with the administration and Congress to advance a comprehensive federal right-to-repair framework that expands consumer choice, strengthens competition, and lowers repair costs.”