Auto Care Association Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, General Council Lisa Foshee discussed progress on right to repair at the 2025 VISION Hi-Tech Training and Expo opening session on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
Foshee gave a quick update on where the industry stood positionally and legislatively.
"Cars are getting more and more complex,” Foshee said. “Cars have SIM chips, which transmit terabytes of data to cloud servers which (automakers) buy, and they control data in the cloud server and can sell that data to anyone they want.”
Foshee said the goal is equal access to that data, which the automakers make available to their independent dealers, so technicians at independent repair shops can service these same vehicles.
“It's an existential threat, and the aftermarket can't repair the cars and get the parts to repair the cars without that data, which is why the Auto Care Association continues to appeal on Capitol Hill for right to repair access,” Foshee said.
She appealed to attendees to stay engaged and connected in the fight for the right to repair.
"I don't think any of us wants to rest our livelihood on a handshake deal with manufacturers,” Foshee said.
