Car companies need to sign up to a data-sharing agreement with independent workshops, says the AAAA, or it’ll have to pursue mandatory legislation with the federal government.
Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) executive director Stuart Charity welcomed GM Holden as a signatory to the Agreement on Access to Service and Repair Information for Motor Vehicles, but noted that a huge percentage of companies are yet to join.
The agreement was signed last December by five pivotal industry groups: AAAA, Australian Automobile Association, Australian Automotive Dealer Association, Australian Motor Industry Federation and the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.
It provides independent workshops valuable data for all aspects of service and repair – and the workshops are required to pay for the data.
Calling GM Holden’s move “a big step forward” for the agreement, Charity noted that only nine of 68 brands sold in Australia are signed up. The window to become part of the potentially industry-changing agreement shuts in December.
“The Heads of Agreement set a 12 month timeline to review whether it has had a meaningful impact on the availability of repair and service information,” he said.
“If this does not occur as a result of this voluntary process, we will advocate strongly for the Federal Government to introduce a mandatory solution, as has been done in Europe and the USA.
“The time is ticking for all car companies selling vehicles in Australia to comply with the full requirements of the Heads of Agreement by December 2015.
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