WASHINGTON, D.C. – The CAR Coalition, a growing group of independent automotive parts, management and repair companies, associations, and insurers committed to preserving consumer choice and affordable vehicle repair, today praised the bipartisan members of the House Energy and Commerce Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee for holding a hearing on legislative issues related to Self-Driving Vehicles and urged lawmakers to also consider policies related to how the vehicles are maintained and repaired. Specifically, the Coalition highlighted the importance of the bipartisan SMART (H.R. 1707) and REPAIR (H.R. 906) Acts which will ensure expanded repair options and consumer access to vehicle data.
“As Congress examines policies related to self-driving vehicle deployment, consideration must be given to how those vehicles are serviced and repaired,” CAR Coalition Executive Justin Rzepka said. “A vehicle that does not have a driver must be meticulously maintained to ensure that the safety of its occupants, pedestrians, other vehicles, and infrastructure are protected. The deployment of new technologies is exciting, but robust maintenance and repair language must be included to ensure broader public safety. The REPAIR ACT, specifically, includes language that could support the safe rollout of new technology; from diagnosing issues, sourcing parts, making necessary complex repairs, and calibrating these vehicles to ensure their safe continuous activity without holding the consumer hostage at the repair shop. The CAR Coalition thanks the committee for examining these important issues and looks forward to working with the committee on ensuring the swift and effective rollout of exciting new technology that is aimed at efficiency and safety.”
To learn more about the survey and the SMART (H.R. 1707) and REPAIR (H.R. 906) Acts, please visit carcoalition.com.
About the CAR Coalition
The CAR Coalition is committed to preserving and protecting consumer choice and affordable vehicle repair by ensuring competition in the automotive collision parts industry. Members include: Allstate, American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA), Automotive Manufacturers Equipment Compliance Agency, Inc. (AMECA), AutoZone, Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA), CarParts.com, Diamond Standard, Farmers Insurance, KSI Auto Parts, LKQ Corporation, PartsTrader, and Tire Pros. Learn more at carcoalition.com.
