New Study Reveals America's Families Save $26 Billion Annually in Vehicle Repairs

Research Demonstrates Need for Right to Repair Legislation

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 23, 2009; Data revealing the economic importance of the automotive aftermarket to consumers shows why Congress needs to pass legislation to ensure a competitive repair market. The data is now available on the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act Web site at www.guerrillaeconomics.biz/righttorepair.

"This comprehensive data provides even more evidence that the automotive aftermarket is a central part of the economy and that consumers will realize significant savings from a competitive vehicle repair marketplace," said Ray Pohlman, president of the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE). "An extra $360 annually can help a family buy groceries and pay medical bills. Passage of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) is paramount to insuring that there will be a competitive automotive repair industry now and in the future."

According to the new study conducted by John Dunham and Associates for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and CARE, independent auto repair shops save American consumers nearly $26 billion annually or $360 per family. The newly-released data also provides estimated figures on the number of repair shops per state and congressional district, plus estimated sales per shop, overall sales and savings realized by choosing an independent repair shop per state and congressional district.

"This data reveals that significant dollars are at stake not only to the U.S. economy but to each American family in passing Right to Repair legislation. The study further explains why the car manufacturers would like to retain control of the repair information, tools and software needed by independent repair shops to repair late model vehicles," said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). "Every single person who owns or operates a vehicle stands to suffer economically if the Right to Repair Act is not passed."

The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) currently has the support of 46 members of the House of Representatives. Consumers can send a letter urging their members of Congress to support of the pending legislation by visiting www.righttorepair.org.

About Right to Repair:

The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, which was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA), would require car companies to make the same service information and tools capabilities available to independent repair shops that they provide to their franchised dealer networks. The legislation further provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets unless that information is provided to the franchised new car dealers. The bill clarifies the responsibilities of the Federal Trade Commission in enforcing the bill's requirements. For more information about the Right to Repair Act, visit www.righttorepair.org.