A broad coalition of auto suppliers, diagnostics toolmakers, aftermarket trade groups, and independent repair networks has launched a coordinated effort to establish a unified standard for vehicle diagnostics data access across the United States and Canada. The initiative targets independent repair shops that currently face inconsistent and often restricted access to the data needed to service modern vehicles.
The push comes as competing federal legislative proposals advance in Congress and a growing patchwork of state-level rules creates compliance complexity for repairers and original equipment manufacturers alike. The coalition, which includes the Auto Care Association, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, and the Consumer Access to Repair (CAR) Coalition, argues that a single, interoperable standard would reduce repair delays, lower consumer costs, and preserve competition in the $199 billion U.S. automotive service market.
Background
The right-to-repair debate has intensified as software-defined vehicles make diagnostics increasingly reliant on proprietary OEM systems. Research by Hanover Research and Babcox found that over 60% of independent repair facilities experience difficulties with routine repairs due to OEM barriers, and over 50% of those facilities must send up to five vehicles per month back to the dealer, adding cost and inconvenience for vehicle owners. Currently, 70% of the nation's 292 million registered passenger and commercial motor vehicles are maintained by independent repair facilities, according to the Auto Care Association.
At the state level, Massachusetts and Maine have enacted laws explicitly requiring automakers to provide vehicle owners and independent repairers with access to diagnostic and repair information, as well as a standardized telematics platform. Automakers have challenged the Maine law in court. A February 2025 Massachusetts ruling upheld voter-approved vehicle data access, cementing the legal foundation for standardized and secure third-party diagnostic access. Separately, Canada's Bills C-244 and C-294, enacted in late 2024, require manufacturers to permit circumvention of software locks for legitimate repair and interoperability purposes.
Details
Two competing federal legislative frameworks have emerged in 2025. On February 25, 2025, the Auto Care Association, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, CAR Coalition, and Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN) applauded the reintroduction of the REPAIR Act, introduced by U.S. Representatives Neal Dunn (R-FL), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Warren Davidson (R-OH), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), alongside 12 additional bipartisan members. The bill would require OEMs to provide vehicle owners and independent repairers with real-time, wireless access to vehicle-generated data-including diagnostics, service, and operational data-alongside a standardized access platform.
A separate proposal emerged in February 2025 when the Automotive Service Association (ASA), the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation-which represents OEMs responsible for approximately 98% of all vehicles sold in the United States-jointly introduced the Safety as First Emphasis (SAFE) Repair Act. That bill builds on a 2023 agreement between independent repairers and automakers stating that "independent repair facilities shall have access to the same diagnostic and repair information that auto manufacturers make available to authorized dealer networks."
The technical debate centers on two proposed data-access architectures. The Secure Vehicle Interface (SVI), supported by the Auto Care Association and repair industry groups, calls for direct, in-vehicle access providing real-time, comprehensive diagnostics. The Extended Vehicle (ExVE) model, preferred by some automakers, routes data through a cloud-based "digital twin," with the manufacturer controlling data flow to independent repairers. Industry observers note that achieving SVI compliance across all automakers will likely take years.
A July 2025 national poll found that more than 83% of Americans support the REPAIR Act, with 84% of Republicans and 82% of Democrats backing the legislation, according to the Auto Care Association. Despite broad public support, nearly 34% of independent garages cite tool cost as a barrier to adopting advanced diagnostic systems, and compliance with new data-sharing protocols is expected to raise upfront costs for smaller shops.
OEMs operating broad telematics ecosystems face their own transition burden. The regulatory environment is becoming increasingly complex, with state-level laws already in effect and a potential nationwide federal law still pending, requiring OEMs to navigate overlapping and sometimes conflicting requirements. The EU Data Act's September 2025 enforcement guidance further requires OEMs to provide third-party access to vehicle-generated data, while protecting proprietary algorithms, adding pressure on manufacturers operating across both markets.
Outlook
The coalition plans to launch a formal testing program in Q3, with pilot sites in high-density repair markets and rural areas where access to qualified technicians is uneven. Seven U.S. states have already enacted automotive right-to-repair laws, while five more have pending legislation, meaning coalition partners face an urgent timeline to demonstrate a working, federally aligned standard before further state-by-state fragmentation takes hold. If successful, a unified diagnostics framework could shape upcoming federal cybersecurity and consumer data rights legislation-determining who can access vehicle data, under what conditions, and with what safeguards for both privacy and over-the-air update integrity.
