A federal judge in Massachusetts has dismissed a challenge to the state's automotive right-to-repair law, upholding the legislation preventing automakers from restricting vehicle repairs to authorized dealerships. The ruling drew praise from Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.
"This big court win will save working people time and money by delivering on their right to get their cars fixed wherever they want—without being beholden to their auto dealership," said U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). "The people of Massachusetts overwhelmingly voted for this years ago, and thanks to state leaders like Governor Healey and Attorney General Campbell tirelessly fighting to get this done, it's finally a reality. Massachusetts is leading the way in showing that when government is on the side of working people, we get important things done."
After the law was passed by voters in November 2020, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation filed a lawsuit challenging it shortly thereafter. It then sat before U.S. District Judge Douglas Woolock for four years, before it was reassigned last month to U.S. District Judge Denise Casper, a federal judge appointed by former President Barack Obama.
As soon as Casper was reassigned on Jan. 7, she made clear she wanted to resolve the case, having said that further briefing wouldn’t be needed to do so.
Casper’s ruling was made Tuesday, after which AAI has said it is looking at options to appeal the case.
“Today's decision will introduce potential security risks to our customers and their vehicles,” said AAI.
The Auto Care Association also released a statement, applauding the judge’s decision to preserve Right to Repair.
“Today’s ruling is a significant victory for the people of Massachusetts—and all Americans,” said Bill Hanvey, ACA president and CEO. "This decision by Judge Casper ensures that car owners have the right to access their vehicle's repair and diagnostic data, empowering them to make informed choices about maintenance and repairs. It levels the playing field, allowing independent repair shops to compete fairly, which in turn drives down costs for consumers. As car owners, we all deserve the freedom to control and manage the data that’s generated by our own vehicles. This ruling is a crucial step toward fostering greater transparency, affordability, and innovation in the automotive industry for the benefit of all Americans."
