Your Car, Their Data: The High-Stakes Battle Over the US Repair Act

It's your car, but the data belongs to the manufacturer. Every time you drive, your vehicle logs where you go, how hard you brake, and even your weight. Yet, you're often locked out of this information. Automakers use digital gates to prevent owners from making their own repairs, effectively forcing them into expensive dealership services.

The Battle for US Repair Act Vehicle Data Access

On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a high-stakes hearing on the Repair Act. Introduced in early 2025 by Representatives Neal Dunn and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, the bill mandates that automakers share telemetry data with vehicle owners and independent repair shops.

According to testimonies, the tension is palpable. Bill Hanvey, CEO of the Auto Care Association, argued that modern vehicles are essentially "computers on wheels" where manufacturers unilaterally control the data. On the flip side, Hilary Cain of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation cautioned that forcing data sharing could compromise intellectual property and isn't necessary for safe repairs.

The Preemption 'Poison Pill' Concerns

While repair advocates support the bill's intent, a specific clause on page 26 has sparked alarm. The language would preempt states from passing their own, potentially stronger, repair laws. iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens labeled this a "poison pill," noting that the fight for repairability is a cat-and-mouse game where state-level agility is crucial to counter new manufacturer lockdowns.