Auto Industry Scare Campaign Is Trying to Trick Voters Into Killing a Landmark Right to Repair Law

Auto Industry Scare Campaign Is Trying to Trick Voters Into Killing a Landmark Right to Repair Law

The increasing complexity of tech-heavy automobiles has given rise to a war over consumers’ right to repair their own property. Big businesses like John Deere argue that its products are simply too complex to entrust maintenance to a third party and that all work should be done in-house, effectively monopolizing repairs. The auto industry, too, is trying to hog this lucrative business all to itself, and is now going as far as launching a fearmongering ad campaign that hints wireless diagnosis technology will somehow lead to sexual violence against women—all in response to a consumer protection, pro-right-to-repair bill in Massachusetts.

This Nov. 3, Massachusetts residents will vote on Question 1; a ballot measure that will require automakers to integrate standardized wireless diagnosis systems into 2022 model year vehicles onward. The measure would expand on a landmark law approved by voters in 2012 that barred car companies from locking out independent shops using proprietary software—a consumer protection law that has become a model for right-to-repair laws nationwide.

In short, it would further democratize the repair of vehicles, and automakers are having none of it, which is why they funded the ad linked below.

Read the full story on thedrive.com.