The battle for Right to Repair (R2R) has just taken another major step forward

In the United States, a Federal Judge has upheld Massachusetts’ landmark automotive telematics Right to Repair law, paving the way for independent repairers to access critical vehicle data.
This ruling is significant – not just for Massachusetts, but for the global fight for the rights of car owners, consumer choice and fair and open competition.
At the heart of this law is telematics, the real-time vehicle data that modern cars generate and send wirelessly to manufacturers.
Until now, vehicle manufacturers have had complete control over this information, often restricting access to their own network of authorised dealerships and locking independent repairers out of key diagnostics.
The Massachusetts law forces car makers to create a standardised, open-access platform, allowing vehicle owners and workshops to retrieve the data they need via a mobile app.
It ensures that independent repairers have the same access as dealerships, preserving competition and consumer choice.

How will this work in practice?
The Massachusetts law requires that all 2022 and newer vehicles with telematics systems include an open-access data platform that enables real-time mechanical data sharing.
This will be accessible via a secure, standardised interface, allowing independent repair shops to diagnose and repair vehicles without relying on dealership-only tools.
Vehicle owners will be able to authorise repairers to access their car’s telematics data through a mobile app, putting them back in control of their vehicle’s service options. Automakers have pushed back, citing cybersecurity risks and arguing that telematics data should remain proprietary.
However, the law includes provisions that allow manufacturers to implement secure third-party systems, balancing security with fair data access. This ensures that independent repairers can perform diagnostics and repairs without manufacturers controlling the entire process.

How Massachusetts compares to Australia
Australia has already led the way with the world’s first mandatory national Right to Repair law for automotive service and repair, introduced in 2022.
This law compels vehicle manufacturers to provide independent workshops with diagnostic, repair, and service information at a fair market price.
However, the Massachusetts ruling goes further by explicitly including telematics data, something Australia’s current law does not fully address.
As vehicles become more connected, telematics will replace the traditional onboard diagnostic (OBD-II) port as the primary way to access repair data. Without telematics access, repairers risk losing visibility into the very systems they need to service.

How does Australia compare to other countries?
Globally, Australia is ahead of many nations, but there are still gaps that need to be addressed.
• European Union: Since 2018, the EU has required that independent repairers receive full access to repair and diagnostic data, including telematics, under Regulation 2018/858. However, some workshops argue that the cost of accessing this data is still
too high.
• United States (beyond Massachusetts): There is no federal Right to Repair law for vehicles yet, but the REPAIR Act (H.R. 906) is under discussion to expand R2R nationwide. Other states, like Maine, are considering laws similar to those of Massachusetts.
• Canada: Currently debating its own Right to Repair legislation, modelled after Massachusetts’ law. Canada’s existing voluntary agreement from 2009 does not
cover telematics, highlighting the need for new laws.
• New Zealand: Discussions are underway, particularly around ensuring independent workshops can access scan tools and pass-through technology similar to the US and EU.

What’s next for Australia?
We cannot assume that our existing Right to Repair laws will remain fit for purpose as technology evolves.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has already acknowledged that connected cars present new challenges for repair access.
As we’ve seen globally, car makers will continue to resist opening up telematics data, arguing cybersecurity risks and intellectual property concerns.
But the fundamental principle remains unchanged: If you own the vehicle, you should have the right to decide who repairs it. Independent workshops must have access to the same data as dealerships to ensure fair competition.
Massachusetts has set a precedent, but the battle for data access isn’t over. Australia needs to stay ahead of the curve and ensure that our Right to Repair framework evolves with the technology.
That means strengthening laws to include secure but open telematics access – before automakers lock the independent sector out for good.
The AAAA fought hard to secure Australia’s Right to Repair law, and we won’t let it fall behind. We are already in active discussions with the federal government about how our law needs to keep pace with telematics, scan tools, data aggregators, and online service books.
The belief in fair and open competition will always need champions, and AAAA will continue to fight to ensure independent repairers and workshops have the access they need to keep serving Australian motorists.
The fight for Right to Repair has always been about fairness, competition, and consumer choice. It is time we made sure connected vehicles don’t become the next frontier of manufacturer control.

If you would like to offer your thoughts on this subject, please email advocacy@aaaa.com.au