https://www.techdirt.com/2023/09/01/tesla-rivian-put-on-fake-show-of-support-for-right-to-repair/ [ ] Techdirt. [ ] * Sign In * Register * Preferences Techdirt [ ] * TechDirt * GreenHouse * Free Speech * Deals * Jobs * Support Techdirt [podcast-ti] L. Ron Hubbard's Estate Is Against Right To Repair For Scientology's E-Meters Gannett Stops Using AI To Write Articles For Now Because They Were Hilariously Terrible Tesla, Rivian Put On Fake Show Of Support For 'Right To Repair' [uses-of-te] (Mis)Uses of Technology from the watch-what-we-do,-not-what-we-say dept Fri, Sep 1st 2023 01:28pm - Karl Bode You may have noticed that there's a massive, bipartisan push afoot to pass "right to repair" laws in many states making it easier and cheaper to repair the things you buy. In a bid to undermine those laws, automakers and companies like John Deere have been using a fairly consistent playbook. One, they'll lie about how such popular reform poses massive security and privacy threats to consumers. Two, they'll strike hollow, voluntary agreements with key industry groups in a bid to pretend that the industry can self-regulate (they can't) and real reform isn't necessary (it is). For example, John Deere has a long history of making tractor repair as inconvenient and expensive as possible in a bid to monopolize maintenance. And every so often they'll strike a "memorandum of understanding" with a group like the American Farm Bureau Federation, pinky swearing that they'll play nice if such groups avoid supporting right to repair legislation. It's always bullshit. The auto industry has taken a similar tack. Under the banner of the "Alliance for Automotive Innovation," the industry has recently struck deals with groups like the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) promising to play nice on right to repair issues if these organizations refuse to support state right to repair legislation. But again, activists say the voluntary agreements aren't worth much: "We don't think it means anything," said Tommy Hickey, director of the Right to Repair Coalition, whose group led the campaign to pass the Massachusetts Data Access Law in 2020. "If you read the language, it says we'll only give you telematic information if it's absolutely necessary." EV makers Rivian and Tesla recently made of show of supporting these recent agreements as evidence of their support for right to repair issues. But they're not actually supporting meaningful new laws, they're just supporting the empty, voluntary agreements the industry has struck with several trade groups to pre-empt new laws. There's nothing actually meaningfully enforceable here; it's the equivalent of a pinky swear. Among the auto blogs that covered the announcement, few pointed out the hollowness of such agreements. In most of the blogs, Tesla, which was just hit with two class actions for unlawfully curbing competition for maintenance and replacement parts for its electric vehicles, gets to pretend it's already leading the way on "right to repair" reform. Without actually having to, you know, do anything: "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 Public Policy and Business Development Vice President Rohan Patel wrote. "Through a comprehensive library of publicly available manuals and guides, Tesla already provides extensive information for independent and do-it-yourself repairers. Both companies claim there's nothing that needs fixing. But in the real world, Tesla's efforts to monopolize repair and maintenance (as well as its terrible customer service) are well established. This is, after all, a company that just got caught not only intentionally and dramatically overstating EV ranges, but creating a team specifically designed to undermine customer efforts to get help. In one instance, Tesla wanted $22,500 or more to replace a dying EV battery on a used car worth $23,000, when independent repair shops were able to do the same repair for less than $5,000. While Tesla does provide token diagnostic support for independent repair shops via its $3,000 a year (or $100 an hour) Toolbox platform, it still greatly restricts the far less expensive replacement of actual parts. Rivian repairs for even minor fender benders can also be comically expensive; not simply because the vehicles are complex, but because of elaborate, often-convoluted restrictions on repair and replacement parts. Both Rivian and Tesla claim to be innovatively a step beyond the traditional auto industry, but when it comes to making automotive repair as expensive, nontransparent, and annoying as possible, so far they're not too far out of step with the rest of the pack. Filed Under: automotive, car repair, class action, maintanance, massachusetts, right to repair Companies: rivian, tesla 6 CommentsLeave a Comment If you liked this post, you may also be interested in... * L. Ron Hubbard's Estate Is Against Right To Repair For Scientology's E-Meters * Apple Realizes It's Swimming Upstream, Now Supports California Right To Repair Bill * E-Bike Industry Blames Consumers For Fires In Effort To Undermine 'Right To Repair' Laws * NHTSA Backtracks On Its Dumb Opposition To 'Right To Repair' * Lawsuit Claiming YouTube's Algorithms Discriminate Against Minorities Tossed By Federal Court * * * * * * Rate this comment as insightful Rate this comment as funny You have rated this comment as insightful You have rated this comment as funny Flag this comment as abusive/trolling/spam You have flagged this comment The first word has already been claimed The last word has already been claimed Lightbulb icon Laughing icon Flag icon Lightbulb icon Laughing icon Comments on "Tesla, Rivian Put On Fake Show Of Support For 'Right To Repair'" Subscribe: RSS Leave a comment * Filter comments in by Time * Filter comments as Threaded * Filter only comments rated Insightful * Filter only comments rated funny LOL * Filter only comments that are Unread 6 Comments Collapse all replies [user-default]That One Guy (profile) says: September 1, 2023 at 8:28 pm If you were willing to play nice to begin with... As always with the 'we pinky-promise we'll behave from now on, there's no need for the government to step in' argument if they were willing to share repair data and allow third parties access to the required parts then none of this would be necessary, so the idea that there's no need for regulations to force them to give up the highly lucrative repair monopolies they currently enjoy is an argument that their own actions utterly demolish. Collapse replies (1) Reply View in chronology Make this comment the first word Make this comment the last word Threaded [2] [9c198bc20e]Dan o says: September 2, 2023 at 8:24 am Re: Consumers do have one response to this, and given the present climate of total corruption, it's the last power we have: simply do not buy John Deere, Rivian, nor Tesla. Reply View in chronology Make this comment the first word Make this comment the last word [ea525d4ed6]Ed says: September 2, 2023 at 9:11 am You really ought to understand a subject before writing about it. What John Deere is doing is very different than what Tesla is doing. Your very comment that Tesla charges more than 3rd party shops is indeed a great example. Tesla allows them to do so, John Deere doesn't. Collapse replies (2) Reply View in chronology Make this comment the first word Make this comment the last word Threaded [2] [ff51930698]Anonymous Coward says: September 2, 2023 at 10:43 am Re: Oh, big difference there. But I do not understand any of it so I can not comment. Reply View in chronology Make this comment the first word Make this comment the last word Threaded [2] [967d3c26de]Anonymous Coward says: September 2, 2023 at 12:00 pm Re: The qualified immunity of anti-right to repair / tesla stans. Reply View in chronology Make this comment the first word Make this comment the last word [a4b2fef029]Anonymous Coward says: September 2, 2023 at 12:02 pm If all these companies supported it, a right to repair movement wouldn't be a thing. Reply View in chronology Make this comment the first word Make this comment the last word --------------------------------------------------------------------- says: Add Your Comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here Name [ ] Email [ ] [ ]Subscribe to the Techdirt Daily newsletter URL [ ] Subject [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Comment * [ ] Comment Options: (*)Use markdown. ( )Use plain text. Make this the ( )First Word or ( )Last Word.(*)No thanks. (get credits or sign in to see balance) what's this? What's this? Techdirt community members with Techdirt Credits can spotlight a comment as either the "First Word" or "Last Word" on a particular comment thread. Credits can be purchased at the Techdirt Insider Shop >> [Post Comment][Preview] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] D[ ] L. Ron Hubbard's Estate Is Against Right To Repair For Scientology's E-Meters Gannett Stops Using AI To Write Articles For Now Because They Were Hilariously Terrible Follow Techdirt Techdirt Daily Newsletter [ ] [Subscribe] Essential Reading The Techdirt Greenhouse Read the latest posts: * Winding Down Our Latest Greenhouse Panel: The Lessons Learned From SOPA/PIPA * From The Revolt Against SOPA To The EU's Upload Filters * Did We Miss Our Best Chance At Regulating The Internet? Read All >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- Trending Posts * Tesla, Rivian Put On Fake Show Of Support For 'Right To Repair' * Florida Prison Confiscates Newspapers After Deciding Puzzle Game Might Be A Way To Send 'Coded Messages' * A Banana Puts The Final Nail In The Coffin Of 5G Hype Techdirt Deals Techdirt Insider Discord The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel... Loading... Become an Insider! Recent Stories Saturday 13:00 This Week In Techdirt History: August 27th - September 2nd (0) Friday 19:39 FBI Joins Investigation Of LAPD Gang Unit Officers Who Did Their Own Selective Editing Of Body Cam Recordings (11) 15:50 Gannett Stops Using AI To Write Articles For Now Because They Were Hilariously Terrible (13) 13:28 Tesla, Rivian Put On Fake Show Of Support For 'Right To Repair' (6) 12:03 L. Ron Hubbard's Estate Is Against Right To Repair For Scientology's E-Meters (25) 10:48 Florida Prison Confiscates Newspapers After Deciding Puzzle Game Might Be A Way To Send 'Coded Messages' (17) 10:43 Daily Deal: The 2023 Technology Professional Bundle (0) 09:27 Court Tosses Arkansas Age Verification Law For Violating The 1st Amendment (12) 05:29 MTA Website Doles Out Rider History Data With Just A Credit Card Number (11) Thursday 20:02 Kansas State Police Tell Court It's Too Much To Ask For Troopers To Respect The Constitution (16) More arrow x Email This Story This feature is only available to registered users. You can register here or sign in to use it. Tools & Services * Twitter * Facebook * RSS * Podcast * Research & Reports Company * About Us * Advertising Policies * Privacy Contact * Help & Feedback * Media Kit * Sponsor / Advertise More * Copia Institute * Insider Shop * Support Techdirt Techdirt Brought to you by Floor64 Proudly powered by WordPress. Hosted by Pressable. [Got it] This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy