Group Acts to Block Right-to-Repair Law

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation has taken legal action to prevent enforcement of Massachusetts' revised right-to-repair law, according to a court document filed last week.

The move comes after state Attorney General Andrea Campbell said in a March filing that her office would start enforcing the law as of June 1, citing it as being "in the public interest."  

In its filing, the alliance argues that enforcing the law on June 1 would cause "irreparable harm" to its members. Compliance with the law, the group claims, could cause automakers to compromise "essential cybersecurity protections" in their vehicles.

The alliance further says that attempts to circumvent compliance, such as disabling telematics systems or withdrawing from the Massachusetts market, would harm consumers and automakers and damage brand reputations.

A hearing on the alliance's request for a temporary restraining order was scheduled for Tuesday.

The alliance lawsuit seeks to block the revised right-to-repair law approved by voters. The group contends that the amended law conflicts with federal regulations, poses cybersecurity and vehicle-safety risks, and imposes an impractical compliance timeline.

Former Attorney General Maura Healey, who currently serves as Massachusetts governor, previously announced her office would not enforce the revised law until the federal court ruled on claims made by automakers challenging the legislation. But U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock has repeatedly delayed a ruling for over two years.

The measure, which the lawsuit refers to as the "data access law,” mandates that automakers with sales operations in Massachusetts equip vehicles utilizing telematics systems with a standardized, open-access data platform, starting with the 2022 model year. The platform would provide vehicle owners and independent repair shops with real-time information from telematics systems, including crash notifications, remote diagnostics and navigation.

A similar ballot initiative, supported by automotive after-market companies, is currently under way in Maine. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation has been advocating for an alternative ballot measure that would codify provisions outlined in the 2014 national memorandum of understanding between automakers and the independent repair industry.

As the enforcement date for Massachusetts' updated right-to-repair law approaches, the legal battle intensifies, with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation seeking to delay implementation and raise concerns over cybersecurity and compliance challenges.

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today