Connected Car
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., reintroduced a bipartisan bill Thursday mandating that vehicle owners and independent repair shops have the same access to repair and maintenance tools and data as automakers and their franchised dealerships. The legislation would require all tools and equipment, wireless transmission of repair and diagnostic data and telematics systems needed for vehicle repairs be made available to the independent repair industry. The bill would create a stakeholder committee with the authority to provide recommendations to the Federal Trade Commission on addressing barriers to vehicle repairs. It also would establish a process for consumers and independent repair shops to file complaints with the FTC. The bill is cosponsored by Republican Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Democratic Reps. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.