Dear AAIA Member/Industry Colleague:

Congratulations! Together we are fast approaching a monumental achievement that will protect the future of the independent aftermarket. Just shy of a milestone 100 co-sponsors, momentum grows in support of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2048). On your behalf, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) has relentlessly kept its eye on the prize. That prize is a guarantee that the independent aftermarket will have access to the same service information and tools from the car makers that are provided to the franchised dealers.

Let's be brutally honest here. There is one reason that there is an eagerness by the vehicle manufacturers and the franchised dealers to formalize the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF). There is one reason that the car companies and other opponents came to the table last summer to negotiate a non-legislative agreement.

The reason is because AAIA and our partners have kept up the pressure on Congress, both on Capitol Hill and in their home districts. Clearly, it's the growing number of legislators that have signed on as co-sponsors (97 in total) and the threat of passage of legislation that got us where we are today. Without that threat, there would have been no negotiations and certainly NASTF would never have been formed.

And let me clear the air about AAIA's position on and participation in NASTF. From the outset we were quite clear that our participation in meetings to formalize NASTF would not preclude our support for passage of Right to Repair legislation and would be kept separate from lobbying activities on Capitol Hill. Unfortunately, our opponents chose to mischaracterize our position on Capitol Hill and we had no choice but to withdraw from participating in subsequent meetings.

We're pleased that the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has been chosen to manage NASTF. Obviously there needs to be a neutral governing body that oversees the availability of OE service information and tools and equipment. But if a group like NASTF is to be viable, there must first be a solid law or a non-legislative agreement that contains enforceable commitments from the manufacturers for making available the information and advanced tools needed to service today's and tomorrow's vehicles. Otherwise, the industry will be forced to fight this battle once again when it might be too late.

So at this point, we do not believe that the efforts being undertaken as part of formalizing NASTF will resolve our industry's need to access information and tools. Instead our efforts and resources will focus on passing legislation or, if possible, negotiating a non-legislative agreement that has the teeth to protect our members and the independent aftermarket.

So where are we now? Congress is on a two-week Easter break. We will keep the pressure on in their home districts to grow support of the legislation. We also will work to bring the manufacturers back to the table to discuss a fair and equitable non-legislative agreement. Absent such agreement, we will push for Congress to move the legislation as soon as possible.

In conclusion, I want to thank the AAIA membership and the aftermarket industry in general for their strong support of this effort. Without the hard work by hundreds of companies and thousands of their employees, we would not have received the attention of Congress and the car companies. We look forward to continuing this effort over the next several critical months to accomplish our ultimate goal of ensuring a competitive independent aftermarket for now and for the future.

Cheers,
Kathleen Schmatz
President & CEO
Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association