Five Major Consumer Groups Endorse the National 'Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act,' States CARE

    ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Thanks to
 America's five major consumer organizations, which have dedicated their
 work to keeping consumers safer, competition alive and the environment
 clean, 'The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act' will have an
 additional boost for passage," stated David Parde, president, The Coalition
 for Auto Repair Equality (CARE).
 
     The letter of the consumer groups' endorsement, jointly signed by the
 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety; Center for Auto Safety; Consumers
 for Auto Reliability and Safety; Consumer Federation of America; and Public
 Citizen, have endorsed HR 2694, The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair
 Act, by stating that, "the ability to quickly and easily repair
 computerized vehicle systems is crucial for the safe operation of a
 vehicle.
 
     "Under the bill, vehicle owners will also be able to choose, on cost
 and reliability grounds, between competing repair facilities and
 aftermarket parts. Consumer and independent service sector access to
 vehicle maintenance information will in turn greatly enhance overall public
 safety and the environmental effort to clean up our air," continued the
 joint statement.
 
     Parde added to the consumers organizations' statement by stating that
 "'The Right to Repair Act' is about the ability of motoring consumers to
 actually own their vehicles' repair information, which should have been
 included with the purchase of the vehicle. Vehicles that are now out of
 warranty should not be forced back to the higher-priced car dealerships for
 repair work unless the consumer chooses that venue."
 
     The consumer organizations' endorsement of 'The Right to Repair Act'
 says, "we request that FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras, uphold her
 commitment to American consumers through the development of sound antitrust
 policy and strict enforcement in this area. We are committed to work with
 Chairman Majoras in order to provide to American consumers the advantages
 of robust competition in access to automotive repair facilities," continued
 the letter, which concluded with thanking sponsors of 'The Right to Repair
 Act' for their leadership and urging other Members of Congress to cosponsor
 and support 'The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act of 2007."
 
     The joint consumer letter was signed by the leaders of the five major
 consumer organizations:
 
     Jacqueline Gillan
     Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
 
     Clarence Ditlow
     Center for Auto Safety
 
     Rosemary Shahan
     Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety
 
     Mark Silbergeld
     Consumer Federation of America
     Joan Claybrook
     Public Citizen
     The automotive aftermarket employs five million people nationwide in
 over 495,000 locations, including "mom and pop" shops.
 
 
 
 

SOURCE Coalition for Auto Repair Equality