Gluesenkamp Perez Leads Letter to Protect Vehicle Owners and Small Businesses

Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), along with Reps. Jake Auchincloss (MA-04) and Jared Golden (ME-02), sent a letter in response to NHTSA’s recent letter about compliance with Massachusetts’ right to repair law, to ensure that the proposal will not adversely impact small businesses and consumers.

In the letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman, the lawmakers expressed their concern the path forward NHTSA proposed in August will “entrench manufacturers’ dominance in the repair market in the long run, harm competition, and discourage other states from pursuing comprehensive right to repair legislation.”

Gluesenkamp Perez, Auchincloss, and Golden also requested a briefing from NHTSA to explain how its proposed solution will affect competition in the marketplace.

“Our constituents understand the importance of supporting small businesses and preserving their right to repair the vehicles they own,” wrote the lawmakers. “Without competition from independent repair shops, auto manufacturers have no incentive to price repair parts competitively.”

Full text of the letter can be found here.