BOSTON – Four years after Massachusetts voters overwhelming approved the first-in-the-nation Right to Repair law, attempts by car manufacturers to prevent it from ever taking effect
have finally come to end.
Judge Denise J. Casper today dismissed all charges in the automobile industry’s federal lawsuit, their latest attempt to block the will of Massachusetts voters and consumers.
“Today is a big win for both consumers and local independent repair shops alike,” said Tommy Hickey, Executive Director of the Right to Repair Coalition. “The judge has dismissed all counts in this erroneous suit by the car manufacturers to block a law that Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly supported more than four years ago.
Today’s ruling comes at a crucial time for thousands of drivers with 2022 cars – which are now coming out of warranty. The law requires auto manufacturers begin sharing wireless repair data with car owners beginning with the 2022 model year. Without it, owners of these vehicles will be prevented from taking them to the local repair shop they choose.
“I applaud today’s decision by federal Judge Denise Casper to dismiss the lawsuit that the automobile manufacturers filed to block Right to Repair in Massachusetts,” said Attorney Edward Colbert, counsel for the Massachusetts Right to Repair Ballot Committee. “This lawsuit was intended solely as another delay tactic and the Attorney General demonstrably proved, and the Court correctly found, that the Massachusetts Right to Repair Law clearly does not conflict with any federal law including the Motor Vehicle Safety Act or the Clean Air Act, and it should be enforced immediately.”
“We would like to thank Attorney General Andrea Campbell and her team for their tireless work on this case and thank the judge for her swift action to preserve the right to repair law,” continued Hickey. “Car owners can now be the gatekeepers of their own repair information and choose where to get their cars repaired. They will no longer be at the mercy of car manufacturers, who time and time again have chosen profits over consumer choice.”
Details of Judge Casper’s ruling will be released at a later date.
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