Auto Care Association makes data rights a priority for 2020

BETHESDA, Md.—"Your Car, Your Data, Your Choice" was the Auto Care Association's primary campaign in 2019.

According to Bill Hanvey, ACA president and CEO, that will not change in 2020.

"The access to vehicle data and the consumer's right to decide where that data is being sent—that's our priority for this year," Hanvey said.

To ensure action on that front, the ACA is supporting data access legislation at both the federal and state level.

Hanvey admitted that action is far more likely on the state level, particularly in Massachusetts, where a revision of the state's Right to Repair law, to include access to data generated by telematics and autonomous vehicles, is in the works.

A Right to Repair ballot initiative proved overwhelmingly successful in Massachusetts in 2016, and the state is prepared to place the revision on the ballot in 2020, according to Hanvey. "But we are pursuing legislative action to eliminate the need for a ballot initiative," he said. "What we really want is an agreement with the auto makers, but so far they are unwilling to negotiate on this.

"We have come to the table with a technical solution, which they asked us to do," Hanvey said. "We have demonstrated we have a solution that works technologically to answer the question of cybersecurity, based on standards used today."

The ACA also wants to have federal legislation on data access introduced, even though in 2020 it will be "a long shot," Hanvey said.

"Once the Massachusetts bill gets passed, we would like to go back to the federal side and have them piggyback on that," he said.

Among other government initiatives, the ACA supported final approval of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which guarantees market access for ACA members to North American markets. It also supports a trade agreement with China.

"The Section 301 tariffs from China have caused a tremendous amount of turmoil in our industry," Hanvey said. "Are prices going up? Are there alternative sources? It's better off for the industry just to know what's going to happen.

"What we need most is an enforceable intellectual property agreement with China, in order to offer the public safe, affordable repair parts."

Another high-priority issue for the ACA in 2020 will be to help the industry ensure it will have the personnel and expertise to repair the next generation of cars.

Hanvey praised the Trump administration's support of apprenticeship programs. "A robust apprenticeship program will be necessary to meet the technological challenges of the future," he said.

Related to this, the development of the next generation of leaders for the auto care industry through the Young Auto Care Network Group and the Women in Auto Care community will remain a high priority for the ACA.

It also will emphasize the engagement of ACA members with their elected officials, especially in the form of visits to ACA member shops and businesses.

"They can get to know our industry and see people providing jobs and revenue to our economy," Hanvey said.

The ACA also has plans to expand both the offering and the attendance at the annual Automotive Aftermarket Products Exposition, held every November in Las Vegas, according to Hanvey.

"Now that we have expanded exhibition space, we can increase our emphasis on shop owners, and encourage them to come to AAPEX and become part of our community," he said.