Pictured from left to right: Mike Stanton, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers; Ron Pyle, Automotive Service Association president; Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich.; and Tim MacCarthy, Association of International Automobile Manufacturers.

Top officials of the Automotive Service Association (ASA) joined the chief executive officers of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (Alliance) and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM) in meetings in Washington, D.C., with leaders on Capitol Hill and the media to discuss the progress of the service information agreement. Ron Pyle, ASA president, and Bill Haas, ASA vice president of divisions, education and training, met with Josephine Cooper, Alliance CEO, and Tim MacCarthy, AIAM CEO, to provide an update on the first few months activity of the agreement.

In September 2002, these three trade associations signed an agreement ensuring independent repairers access to service information, training and diagnostic tools. Under the agreement, automakers committed to providing independent repair shops with the same service, tool and training information related to vehicle repair as is available to franchised dealerships by Aug. 31, 2003.

In the Washington, D.C., briefing, Cooper stated, "We are extremely pleased with the progress of Alliance member companies in providing their service information on the Internet. Access to this information will guarantee that independent repairers have the same repair capabilities as dealer-operated repair facilities."

Last November, at the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) in Las Vegas, ASA hosted a demonstration of 11 automaker Web sites for more than 500 repairers. ASA members from around the nation interacted with those automaker professionals involved in developing the sites. This demonstration allowed repairers to not only review the sites but make suggestions as to their effectiveness in a daily operation.

Since the agreement was signed, manufacturers have made steady progress in meeting their commitment. A number of automakers have already publicly launched Web sites that provide real-time access to factory service and repair information; this will improve the ability of independent repair shops to quickly and accurately diagnose and repair vehicles. The remaining automakers continue to conduct tests on their sites and plan to have those online in the next few weeks. ASA believes all of the sites should be up and running prior to the agreement's deadline. Although emissions information is covered by current law, the non-emissions piece of the agreement is critical to the future of the independent repairer.

"The aftermarket continues to make progress in obtaining a level playing field for service and tool information," said Pyle. "ASA diligently monitors this issue on behalf of all service professionals and works with the automakers to assure information availability to the aftermarket."

The three associations had a day of meetings on Capitol Hill to report on the progress of the agreement. In a meeting with Fred Upton, R-Mich., U.S. House of Representatives Commerce Committee Subcommittee chairman, the group briefed Upton on the specific sites that are in place and a timetable for other sites to come online. Upton said he believes the agreement is working well and is pleased that independent shops throughout the country will get the information they need to fix vehicles and give consumers more choices. "In light of the success, I do not see the need for legislation in this area," said Upton.

AIAM's MacCarthy said, "Seven automakers, representing 19 different makes, have already launched their service Web sites. All others will complete their own Web sites later this month or by the end of March. With this progress and our support for a permanent forum where service issues can be addressed, we believe legislation is unwarranted and unnecessary."

ASA also met with other representatives of the U.S. House and Senate commerce committees. They were pleased the agreement is on track and supportive of an industry solution. ASA and the automakers plan to submit a follow-up report in the fall of 2003 after the agreement's deadline. Formal letters concerning the progress of the agreement were sent to members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

ASA continues to encourage independent repairers to complete complaint forms located on the ASA Web site, www.asashop.org, when service information, tool and training availability issues arise. ASA forwards these complaint forms to the appropriate automaker representatives for resolution. To date this has been an effective process.

The National Automotive Service Task Force is comprised of automakers, members of the aftermarket and franchised new car dealers. The task force meets twice a year but confers regularly on service information, tool and training issues. It serves as a forum for complaints.

On a related matter, ASA continues to monitor the final U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions service information regulation being considered by the agency. Although the final regulation has not been published, ASA has been assured that it is in the final stages and repairers should see the regulation in the Federal Register in the next few months.

Bob Redding is the Automotive Service Association's Washington, D.C., representative. He is a member of several federal and state advisory committees involved in the automotive industry. For more information about the legislative activities of ASA, visit www.TakingTheHill.com.

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