Electric vehicle makers Tesla and Rivian both sent letters of support to the signers of a “right to repair” pact between independent automotive repairers, collision repair experts and automakers.
In July, the Automotive Service Association, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation signed the pact, affirming a 2014 national agreement on automotive right-to-repair stating “independent repair facilities shall have access to the same diagnostic and repair information that auto manufacturers make available to authorized dealer networks.”
In a letter to Congress outlining this major automotive right-to-repair development, the signing organizations wrote: “This commitment was created with our mutual and valued customers in mind: vehicle owners. It affirms that consumers deserve access to safe and proper repairs throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle [and] it is built to last because it anticipates changes in automotive technologies and market evolutions.”
Now, Tesla and Rivian have pledged their support of the pact.
In a letter signed by Tesla Vice President of Public Policy and Business Development Rohan Patel, the EV maker said it agrees customers should have access to safe and proper repairs throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle, it agrees with the standards laid out in the pact and is happy to support the effort.
“Tesla’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy includes empowering independent repairers to service electric vehicles as the global fleet grows,” Tesla’s letter said. “Through a comprehensive library of publicly available manuals and guides, Tesla already provides extensive information for independent and doit-yourself repairers. Current Tesla owners have numerous options to repair their vehicles.
“The commitment aligns with Tesla’s mission and our focus on supporting our customer’s rights while protecting their safety and security,” the letter concluded.
Rivian sent a letter signed by Chief Policy Officer Alan Hoffman, saying it also agrees customers should have access to safe and proper repairs throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle and supports the independent repair community as provided in the pact.
Rivian said it owns and operates service centers and mobile service, and also offers several independent repair options for owners to service and repair their vehicles including a growing network of third-party Rivian-certified collision centers, wheel and tire service through a certified national provider and third-party glass repair and ADAS calibration.
“Rivian supports third-party collision centers by providing access to Rivian repair manuals, service parts, tools and training---enabling them to safely repair Rivian vehicles,” the EV maker said. “Rivian intends to leverage similar approaches as we increase third-party and do it yourself options.”
Rivian said it also aims to lead in self-repair by developing features which enable third parties and individuals to increasingly perform service on the vehicles.
Source: Tesla, Rivian
Abby Andrews