Massachusetts’ right-to-repair law can now be applied, the National Highway Safety Administration decided after expressing concern it could make vehicles susceptible to hacking crimes.
The law, which an auto industry advocate tried to stop, will let owners of newer models take them to independent repair shops rather than only auto dealers because it requires automakers to also share the vehicles’ repair data with the former.
The NHTSA said automakers can share the data using short-range wireless technology but not the long-range version due to security concerns over data theft or criminals’ remote control of vehicles, according to news reports.
Advocates of the law say it will lower repair costs by opening up more competition.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation sued to stop the law shortly after state voters approved it in 2020. It then requested a temporary restraining order this past June in an attempt to prevent enforcement of the measure, saying it would compromise vehicle data security and damage brands.
