Tesla and Rivian Endorse Automotive Right to Repair Agreement with Telematics Data

WASHINGTON — Tesla Inc. and Rivian Automotive Inc. have expressed their support for an agreement on automotive right to repair. This agreement, which is backed by major automakers and independent repair shops, includes access to necessary telematics data.

In letters sent separately to executives at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Automotive Service Association, and Society of Collision Repair Specialists, both Tesla and Rivian pledged their endorsement to the outlined tenets of the commitment.

“Rivian agrees that our customers should have access to safe and proper repairs throughout a vehicle’s life cycle and further is aligned with supporting the independent repair community as provided in the commitment,” wrote Alan Hoffman, Rivian’s chief policy officer, in a letter sent on August 9.

Rohan Patel, vice president of public policy and business development at Tesla, also expressed the company’s agreement with the commitment’s standards and stated that they are “happy to support this effort.”

“In addition to supporting the customer’s right to choose their preferred method of repairing their vehicle, Tesla also protects drivers’ safety and security through industry-backed standards,” wrote Patel in a letter sent on July 29. “The commitment aligns with Tesla’s mission and our focus on supporting our customer’s rights while protecting their safety and security.”

Although Tesla and Rivian are not members of the alliance that represents automakers like General Motors, Ford, Toyota, and Volkswagen, they have shown their support for the new agreement. This agreement ensures that independent repair shops will continue to have access to the same diagnostic and repair information that automakers provide to their authorized dealerships, including telematics data needed for vehicle diagnosis and repair.

Furthermore, the parties involved have committed to collaborating on education and training initiatives, with additional resources available to independent repair shops through automaker repair websites or third-party information providers, software, and tools.

They have also pledged to work together in support of federal legislation that codifies the provisions of this commitment, ensuring consumer choice in vehicle repair across the country. Additionally, they will oppose any federal or state legislation that conflicts with the commitment.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the Automotive Service Association, and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists have stated that this updated commitment reaffirms a 2014 national memorandum of understanding between automakers and the independent repair industry.

This latest endorsement of the new agreement comes as Congress considers right-to-repair legislation that targets the auto industry. Meanwhile, the CAR Coalition, a group including AutoZone and Allstate, has criticized the agreement, calling it “an attempt to prevent Congress from advancing consumer-focused legislation.” They argue that the agreement does not expand consumer choices or provide vehicle owners with access to repair data.

At the state level, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation is representing automakers in Massachusetts to challenge a voter-approved measure that revised and expanded the state’s existing right-to-repair law. The alliance argues that the amended law conflicts with federal laws, poses cybersecurity and vehicle safety risks, and sets an impossible compliance timeline.

However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently stated that automakers could comply with the law after previously advising against compliance due to cybersecurity and safety concerns.