United States. According to the CAR Coalition, as President Biden prepared for the State of the Union address, the White House reaffirmed the president's longstanding support for consumers' right to repair their products however and where they choose.
"The president believes that large manufacturers should not restrict consumers from repairing their own equipment, whether it's a tractor or a smartphone," the White House said.
With consumers feeling pressure from what the CAR Coalition calls "unfair and costly repair restrictions" across the country, the organization believes lawmakers on both sides of the aisle know change is needed to reduce costs and restore consumer choice in the auto repair process.
Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, introduced the bipartisan Save Money on Auto Repair Transportation (SMART) Act last Congress, citing rising auto repair costs and an increasingly limited demand for aftermarket parts options:
"Buying a car is one of the most important investments made. But according to AAA, one in three American drivers can't cover the costs of an unexpected auto repair bill without going into debt... Consumers deserve to have access to as many auto repair parts options as possible," said Rep. Issa.
The CAR Coalition states, "This is the year for Washington to promote bipartisan national solutions, such as the SMART Act and the Auto Industry Fair and Professional Right to Repair Act (REPAIR) to help make auto repairs more affordable for American drivers."
