Ford, GM, and Lobbying Against Right to Repair: The White House Meeting and Legislative Maneuvers

On June 3rd, senior leaders from GM (including CEO Mary Barra), Ford (Andrew Frick), the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, and the NADA met with President Trump in the Oval Office to lobby against vehicle right to repair. The next day, President Trump publicly stated, 'We had the auto industry in yesterday. They don't want people to fix their car,' confirming the intent behind the industry's White House visit: pushing for legislative restrictions on consumer repair.

Currently, two bills are active in Congress:

• The Repair Act, which would guarantee legal access to all car diagnostic and telematics data for consumers and independent mechanics, removing manufacturer gatekeeping.
• HR7389, the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act, backed by Ford, GM, and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. It passed committee 48-1 in May, but its crucial telematics provision—data access enabling repairs—was stripped out, ensuring manufacturers retain control. The industry supports this watered-down legislation because it appears pro-repair yet omits what matters to independents.

Automakers justify repair restrictions by citing safety and cybersecurity risks, arguing that mechanic access could lead to hacking or improper repairs affecting subsequent owners. However, studies from the FTC and cybersecurity experts found vehicle attacks stem from poor software and device security, not from repair access via OBD ports. When automakers argued data lockdown was federally required during the Massachusetts legal fight, courts found no such regulations existed.

Despite claiming data can't be shared with mechanics, Ford and GM sell drivers' behavior data to brokers like LexisNexis—enabling insurance rate hikes—without consent or notification. The speaker points out this selective control is a broader issue across industries (e.g., John Deere's control over tractor software), forming a barrier between owners and their property. Automakers are building similar systems: vehicle gateways restrict data, funneling all repairs to authorized dealers and raising costs.

Projections for 2035 indicate 2.55 million vehicle owners will face restricted repair, adding approximately $200/year per owner in costs, totaling $30 billion redirected to dealer service departments—an intentional business model, not a byproduct.

The public break by President Trump—stating the industry asked him to restrict consumer repair—is significant. Whether robust telematics and data access protections are enacted depends on future legislation, not public statements or bill titles. The speaker urges viewers to scrutinize bill content, noting industry lobbyists are persistent and the 'future of vehicles and ownership are at stake.'

[inferred from mention] The speaker encourages community action via a new forum: community.loylamoses.com.