INTRODUCTION OUR PLANET OUR SUPPLY CHAIN OUR PEOPLE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE REPORT
Our Advocacy: Right to Repair Empowering Independent Repair Shops to Optimize Vehicle Performance Automakers generally provide three- to �ve-year “bumper-to-bumper” warranties for new vehicles, with the stipulation that the car owner visit an o�cial dealer for covered repairs and maintenance. After the warranty period has ended, the owner may choose to continue getting service from an authorized dealer or visit one of more than 200,000 independent repair centers nation-wide. A simple choice, right? Actually, it’s not. The dealer has an advantage in preserving the existing service relationship because it often has exclu - sive access to data about the car’s operation and history – data that’s been accumulating since the car was built. This vehicle-speci�c data, combined with proprietary diagnostics, can give the dealer an edge over independent repair shops that may have limited access to this data and insights such data might provide. The car owner, who is usually blocked from seeing the data, faces a few less-than ideal choices if a new issue arises with the vehicle: Take it to the dealer for service, worried that the repair bill might be substantial due to typically higher labor rates and non-discounted Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts
Delay the maintenance to put o� the anticipated charges, even if the car behaves or smells “o�” Trade in the car for a new vehicle, leaving the undiagnosed issues for the buyer to resolve, or Take the car to an independent repair shop, which may not have the same level of data access as the dealership.
All of these choices generate confusion, frustration and additional costs for car owners. But, they also have implications for the environment. Every day a car underperforms mechanically it could be emitting more pollutants or consuming more fuel. Also, if a car is traded-in prematurely, it may end up in a scrapyard while triggering demand for a new car to be built, which generates an array of environmental impacts (materials, energy, shipping, etc.) Fortunately, there is movement across the U.S. and globally – Right-To-Repair – that seeks to create a level playing �eld among repair service providers, both in the automotive industry and others. Here in the U.S., several legislative initiatives have been put forward in Congress and there is growing bi-partisan support to pass a bill that will regulate automobile-da - ta access to protect consumer interests and foster fair competition in the auto servicing sector. This e�ort received a boost in March 2023, when 27 state attorneys general sent a letter to Congress to urge passage of Right To Repair legislation. Parts Authority works with the Auto Care Association and other industry groups both to advocate and encourage legislators to act on an issue of importance to their constituents. We believe that Right To Repair should be codi�ed as the way our auto repair industry should operate. For more information about automotive Right-To-Repair advocacy in the U.S., visit: https://www.autocareadvocacy.org .
20 Sustainability Report 2023: The Composition of a Responsible Organization
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