The End May Be Nigh for Automakers’ Monopoly on Car Repair Data
Automakers are facing scrutiny over their control of car repair data, which limits independent repair shops' ability to service vehicles. A proposed bipartisan bill, the REPAIR Act, aims to address this issue by ensuring access to necessary data for repairs. The legislation seeks to balance intellectual property rights with fair competition in the automotive repair industry.
- ▪Automakers currently control vehicle data, forcing owners to rely on expensive dealership services.
- ▪Independent repair shops report significant challenges due to restricted access to diagnostic tools and parts.
- ▪The REPAIR Act aims to clarify the distinction between protecting intellectual property and preventing monopolistic practices in car repairs.
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Home – Economic Policy News – The End May Be Nigh for Automakers’ Monopoly on Car Repair Data opinion The End May Be Nigh for Automakers’ Monopoly on Car Repair Data EJ Antoni • May 18, 2026 Print Kenta Kon, CEO of Toyota Motors, on Feb. 6, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP / Getty Images) (function(){var t=document.querySelector(".wp-block-kadence-dynamichtml"),s=document.currentScript.previousElementSibling;if(t&&s){if("prepend"==="before_element")t.parentNode.insertBefore(s,t);else if("prepend"==="after_element")t.parentNode.insertBefore(s,t.nextSibling);else if("prepend"==="prepend"||"prepend"==="inside_first_child")t.insertBefore(s,t.firstChild);else t.appendChild(s);}})(); Think you own that new car you just bought? Not all of it.
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