Canberra, Australia — While the Canadian auto industry spent a much-needed long weekend with family and friends for Canada Day, our Australian counterparts officially launched the Motor Vehicle Information Scheme (MVIS), which requires OEMs to provide complete service and repair information to repairers.
“The law is a game-changer for thousands of independent workshops across the country who now have access to dealer-level vehicle information for all brands sold in Australia, including software updates, wiring schematics, technical, security and EV information,” said CEO of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) Stuart Charity.
“This ensures workshops can compete in the market on a level playing field, and it future proofs their businesses.”
In much the same way as many of our industry advocacy groups here in Canada, the AAAA has long fought for the rights of independent Australian repair facilities to be given a fair shot at competing on a larger scale in the collision repair sector.
“The AAAA has long fought for a law that gives independent workshops a fair go and motorists a choice of repairer. After more than a decade of campaigning, we are proud to see this law finally become a reality for the industry,” said Charity.
“The new law will make a real difference to your workshop. I’ve spoken to many of our members who couldn’t wait for the new law to be operational so they can access the information they need when they want it.”
This new law, the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere and a significant step forward for the global right to repair movement is implemented as Canada attempts to push through its own piece of legislation to address consumer choice concerns domestically.
The Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA) drafted a petition outlining several of the association’s aims for the right to repair movement in Canada, including an amendment to the Competition Act as well as measures that safeguard rights to digital software contained within vehicles.
The petition, which reached the House of Commons in late June, received 1,786 signatures and the support of Windsor-West New Democrat MP Brian Masse.
As of June 21, the federal government had 45 days to respond to the petition.
