Automakers Just Lost a Major Right to Repair Battle — And We Couldn’t Be Happier

Imagine buying a car — spending tens/hundreds of thousands of dollars — only to be told that you don’t really own it. That’s exactly what automakers have been trying to convince us of for years. They want to lock us out of our own vehicles, forcing us to rely on overpriced dealership repairs while keeping independent mechanics in the dark.

But this time, they lost.

In a huge win for consumers, independent repair shops, and anyone who believes in fairness, a federal judge just threw out automakers’ attempt to kill the Right to Repair law in Massachusetts. This law, originally passed by voters in 2020, requires car manufacturers to share wireless vehicle data (telematics) with car owners and independent repair shops. Automakers, of course, fought back, claiming it would compromise cybersecurity. But after years of legal delays, courtroom battles, and corporate fear-mongering, the court rejected their arguments.

To be clear, this victory isn’t just about one law in one state. It’s about breaking the automakers’ stranglehold on car repairs. It’s about consumer choice, fair competition, and the basic right to fix what you own.

And let’s be real: this fight isn’t just theoretical for us. At eManualOnline, we’ve spent years providing repair manuals to help people take control of their own vehicle maintenance. We know what it’s like to have manufacturers try to hide critical repair information behind paywalls and dealership monopolies. And we’re not going to stand by while they continue to fight against our right to repair.

Of course, the battle isn’t over. Automakers are already preparing to appeal the ruling, and a new federal proposal — the SAFE Repair Act — might be their next sneaky move. So while we celebrate this moment, we’re also gearing up for the next round.

But for now, we want to take the time and give you the full story — how this all started, what’s at stake, how automakers tried (and failed) to shut down Right to Repair, and what happens next. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this: corporations will fight tooth and nail to control the things we own, but they don’t get to decide who has the right to fix them.

The Right to Repair Movement: A Battle Decades in the Making

This fight didn’t start yesterday. For nearly fifty years, manufacturers have been working to lock consumers out of their own products — whether it’s cars, farm equipment, or even phones. Every time a new repair law passes, they find a loophole. Every time they lose a battle, they shift their strategy. But if history has shown us anything, it’s this: when people fight for their right to repair, manufacturers don’t get the final say.

It all started in 1975 with the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a law meant to stop companies from scamming consumers with bogus warranty restrictions. Back then, manufacturers would tell customers that if they used third-party parts or independent repair shops, their warranty would be void — a blatant attempt to keep people locked into their expensive repair ecosystem. Magnuson-Moss put an end to that, but it didn’t stop manufacturers from finding new ways to restrict repairs.

By the 1990s, cars were no longer just machines. They were more like computers on wheels. Mechanics needed digital access to a car’s engine data, but manufacturers weren’t eager to share. In 1996, an update to the Clean Air Act forced automakers to install an OBD-II port in every car, a standardized diagnostic interface that allowed independent repair shops to access basic repair information. It was a step forward, but automakers still held the keys to deeper diagnostics. They couldn’t block access completely, so they simply made repairs harder.

Then came 2012, when Massachusetts decided it had had enough. The state passed the first-ever Right to Repair law for automobiles, requiring automakers to share diagnostic and repair data with independent mechanics. The industry panicked. If Massachusetts forced automakers to comply, other states might follow. So instead of fighting 50 different legal battles, the industry came up with a plan: a nationwide Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

On the surface, this MOU looked like a victory — automakers agreed to give independent shops access to the same repair data as dealerships. But in reality, it was just another stalling tactic. Automakers knew that the future of repairs wasn’t in diagnostic ports or printed manuals. The future was wireless data. And that’s exactly where they took the fight next.

Instead of relying on the OBD-II port, modern vehicles started sending repair data directly to the automaker via telematics — a move that conveniently cut independent repair shops out of the loop. You could own your car, but the data that controlled its repairs belonged to the manufacturer. And just like that, everything Massachusetts fought for in 2012 became meaningless.

But if they thought people wouldn’t notice, they were wrong.

In 2020, Massachusetts voters passed a new Right to Repair law, this time specifically targeting telematics. This law explicitly requires automakers to share telematics data with vehicle owners and independent repair shops. The message from voters was loud and clear:

This information belongs to the people who own the cars, not just the corporations that make them.

The auto industry responded immediately, challenging the law in court and arguing that sharing telematics data would pose a cybersecurity risk. Their lawsuit dragged on for years, delaying the law’s enforcement and keeping independent mechanics locked out.

And that’s how we got to today — where, after endless legal battles and corporate fear-mongering, a federal judge finally ruled against automakers, delivering a historic victory for the Right to Repair movement. But as we’ll see in the next section, the fight is far from over.

Automakers’ Dirty War Against Right to Repair

When Massachusetts voters passed the Right to Repair law in 2020, automakers had two choices: comply or fight.

They chose war.

But this wasn’t an open, honest battle. No, automakers didn’t come forward and say, “We want to control repairs because it’s more profitable for us.” Instead, they wrapped their opposition in fear-mongering, legal loopholes, and endless delay tactics — a playbook they’ve been using for years.

Their strategy was simple: stall, confuse, and intimidate. And they nearly got away with it.

Step 1: Scare the Public

The first move was classic corporate propaganda: convince the public that Right to Repair was dangerous.

Through their lobbying group, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, automakers dumped $25 million into a deceptive ad campaign. One commercial warned that if the law passed, hackers could take control of your car while you’re driving. Another ad went even lower, suggesting criminals could track and harm women using vehicle data.

It was a desperate, ugly smear campaign. And it failed. Massachusetts voters weren’t buying it. Despite the fear-mongering, 75% voted in favor of expanding Right to Repair.

So automakers moved to Plan B: delay, delay, delay.

Step 2: Bury It in the Courts

The ink was barely dry on the new law when automakers sued the state of Massachusetts. They claimed the law was:

• A cybersecurity risk that would expose cars to hacking.
• Impossible to implement with current technology.
• In conflict with federal law, making it unenforceable.

It was the perfect stall tactic. As long as the lawsuit was active, automakers didn’t have to comply. And they played the system masterfully—delaying the verdict seven times over four years.

The goal was obvious: run out the clock. Keep dragging the case through the courts, make people forget about it, and hope lawmakers lose interest.

Step 3: Stonewall Massachusetts

By 2023, Massachusetts had had enough. State officials announced they would start enforcing the law anyway, even though the case was still in court. Automakers’ response? Outright defiance.

Some car companies disabled telematics features in Massachusetts vehicles rather than comply with the law. Others pretended they didn’t have a way to share the data, despite using similar technology to give locksmiths access to security codes.

For an industry that loves to talk about “innovation,” they sure seemed incapable of finding a solution when it meant giving up control.

Step 4: Hide Behind “Security Concerns”

If there was one argument automakers pushed the hardest, it was security. They insisted that letting independent repair shops access telematics data would lead to hacking risks. They warned of data breaches, vehicle takeovers, and identity theft.

Sounds scary, right? There’s just one problem: automakers were already failing to protect customer data.

Volkswagen suffered a massive data breach in 2024 that exposed the real-time location of 800,000 EVs. Subaru’s Starlink system had vulnerabilities that could have let hackers unlock and track millions of vehicles.

And yet, these same automakers wanted us to believe that independent mechanics — who have been fixing cars for decades — were the real security threat?

It was all a distraction. A well-rehearsed lie designed to make people forget what this fight was really about: controlling the repair industry, keeping dealerships in power, and maximizing profits at the consumer’s expense.

But Massachusetts didn’t back down. After four years of corporate obstruction, the case was finally coming to a close. A ruling was on the way. And for the first time in a long time, in February 2025, automakers weren’t in control of the outcome.

February 2025: The Ruling That Changed Everything

In February 2025, it all came crashing down. U.S. District Judge Denise Casper delivered a ruling that sent shockwaves through the automotive industry. The automakers’ lawsuit was officially dismissed.

A victory for us!

The Court’s Decision: A Resounding Defeat for Automakers

First, Judge Casper ruled that Massachusetts’ Right to Repair law does not conflict with federal law. Automakers had spent years arguing that giving repair shops access to telematics data would violate federal safety and environmental regulations. The judge saw through the nonsense. No such conflict existed.

Second, she shut down their cybersecurity excuse. The automakers’ biggest talking point — “this law will allow hackers to take control of vehicles” — was tossed aside. The court ruled that they failed to provide any credible evidence that sharing telematics data with independent repair shops posed a legitimate security risk.

And finally, she made one thing absolutely clear: car owners have the right to control their own vehicle data. That data does not belong to automakers. It does not belong to dealerships. It belongs to the people who own the cars. End of story.

Automakers Were Caught in Their Own Lies

Throughout the trial, Massachusetts’ legal team demonstrated just how hypocritical the industry had been. For starters, automakers already shared security data with locksmiths, proving they had a system in place for secure access.

They also failed to provide any real evidence that a repair shop accessing telematics would lead to security breaches. And not to mention, they dragged out the case for years while knowingly violating the law.

It became painfully obvious that this lawsuit was never about security or compliance — it was about greed. And now, the gig was up.

The Industry’s Worst Nightmare Becomes Reality

For years, automakers had been carefully crafting a future where they controlled every aspect of vehicle repairs. The Massachusetts ruling blew a hole straight through those plans.

Now, independent repair shops can access the same real-time vehicle data as dealerships. Consumers could finally take their cars wherever they wanted without worrying about dealership lock-in.

The entire system of forced dealership repairs (one of the auto industry’s most profitable scams) just took a massive hit. And this ruling didn’t just uphold one state’s law — it set a legal precedent that could ripple across the country. If other states followed Massachusetts’ lead, the automakers’ monopoly on repairs could be shattered entirely.

The Aftermath: Automakers Scramble for a New Strategy

The ruling hit hard, but the fight wasn’t over. Automakers had one last move: take the battle to Washington.

Just one week after losing in court, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation — now wounded but still dangerous — announced their next plan: the SAFE Repair Act.

They called it a “compromise.” But anyone paying attention knew better; this was about regrouping and launching a new attack. And if we don’t stop them, they might just get away with it.

The SAFE Repair Act: A “Compromise” or a Trap?

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from this fight, it’s that automakers never lose quietly. They don’t accept defeat. Instead, they regroup, rebrand, and come back swinging. That’s exactly what they did after the Massachusetts ruling — rushing to Washington, D.C. with a brand-new plan: the SAFE Repair Act.

On the surface, it sounds like a federal solution to the repair debate. A law that promises consumer choice, industry cooperation, and better security protections. But look closer, and you’ll see the truth.

This isn’t a compromise. It’s a corporate land grab.

This bill isn’t designed to protect Right to Repair — it’s designed to contain it. And if it passes, the victory we just won in Massachusetts could be erased overnight.

The Auto Industry’s New Strategy: Control the Law Instead of Fighting It

For years, the auto industry has fought state-level Right to Repair laws, spending millions to kill legislation, delay lawsuits, and spread fear-mongering ads. But now that they’ve lost in Massachusetts, their entire strategy has changed.

Instead of fighting 50 different battles across the country, automakers want a single federal law — one that they can control.

A federal Right to Repair law sounds great on paper, but here’s the catch: if automakers get to write the rules, they’ll make sure the law benefits them — not consumers.

And if the SAFE Repair Act passes? It could override stronger state laws like Massachusetts’ and lock in weaker protections nationwide.

What the SAFE Repair Act Really Says — And What It Doesn’t

At first glance, the SAFE Repair Act looks like a win for Right to Repair. It claims to protect independent repair shops, ensure consumer choice, and preserve a competitive repair market. But dig deeper, and the loopholes start to appear.

Here’s what the bill claims to do — and what’s actually lurking beneath the surface:

• It claims to “preserve parity between franchised dealers and independent repair facilities.”
  → But franchised dealers don’t even have full access to all vehicle data — automakers do. This means manufacturers can still withhold key software, security codes, and over-the-air updates that both dealerships and independent mechanics need to complete repairs.

• It claims that “consumers – rather than insurers – have the right to decide where and how they want their vehicles repaired.”
  → But that was never the real issue. The problem isn’t where consumers take their cars — it’s whether that repair shop has access to the necessary tools, software, and diagnostics. If the bill doesn’t mandate access to telematics and encrypted systems, then “choice” is meaningless.

• It claims to “provide additional protections to consumers to ensure that they can obtain a safe
  and proper vehicle repair.”
  → That sounds nice, but in reality, it gives automakers an opening to impose repair restrictions under the guise of safety. If they decide only OEM-authorized parts or procedures are “safe,” independent repair shops could still be blocked from servicing modern vehicles.

• It claims that “consumers are protected from unsafe and improper repairs.”
  → This could be weaponized against independent mechanics. Automakers could label non-dealership repairs as “unsafe” just to push consumers back to their service networks. And who gets to define what’s “proper”? The same corporations that spent years fighting against Right to Repair!

Nowhere in the SAFE Repair Act does it require automakers to:

• Provide full access to telematics and over-the-air software updates
• Prevent software locks from blocking independent repairs
• Ensure third-party parts work properly without restrictions

This isn’t a right-to-repair bill if you ask me. It’s a corporate damage-control measure disguised as one.

If SAFE Passes, Massachusetts’ Victory Could Be Erased

And this is where things get really dangerous. If the SAFE Repair Act becomes law, it could override Massachusetts’ Right to Repair law entirely. Congress would be setting a federal standard, and if that standard is weaker than what Massachusetts passed, the auto industry wins by default.

Automakers know they can’t kill Right to Repair outright. That battle is lost. So instead, they’re trying to control how the law is written — locking in weak protections that look good on paper but change nothing in practice.

We’ve seen this play out before. In other industries, corporations have used federal legislation to block stronger state laws. Big Tech, telecom giants, and even agribusinesses have all pushed for weak national rules to kill tougher state regulations.

Now, automakers are following the same playbook.

We Need to Call Out This Scam — Before It’s Too Late

Right-to-Repair doesn’t need a “compromise” written by the very companies that fought against it. It needs real protections, with no loopholes and no corporate interference.

If we let automakers write the rules, we’ll be right back where we started:

• Locked out of our own vehicles.
• Forced into expensive dealership repairs.
• Watching independent mechanics struggle as automakers keep repair tools and data under lock and key.

This isn’t just about one bill. This is about whether we let corporations dictate what we can and can’t do with the things we own. And if we don’t fight back now, we might not get another chance.

The Future of Right-to-Repair: What’s Next?

The fight for Right to Repair is bigger than just cars. Across the country, consumers are pushing back against corporate giants who want to control what we own — from tractors to smartphones to home appliances. And despite the industry’s efforts to stall, weaken, or outright kill repair laws, momentum is on our side. All 50 states have introduced some form of Right to Repair legislation, and victories are starting to pile up. Massachusetts showed that when people stand up and demand change, they win — and other states are watching.

But make no mistake — this fight is far from over. Automakers will appeal the Massachusetts ruling, hoping to overturn it with friendlier judges. Meanwhile, in Washington, lobbyists are pushing hard to pass the SAFE Repair Act, a bill that could erase our hard-fought progress by locking in weaker federal protections. If the auto industry succeeds in passing a watered-down federal law, other industries will follow. What happens next in Washington could determine the future of every Right to Repair fight, not just for cars but for everything we rely on.

So, while this ruling is a massive victory, the work isn’t done. We can’t afford to get comfortable — because if we stop fighting, automakers will take back everything we’ve won. If we want to protect the right to fix what we own, we have to stay loud, stay informed, and keep pushing forward. Because if there’s one thing this fight has proven, it’s that when consumers push back, we win.

What Can You Do to Help?

We’ve fought too hard to let automakers take back control. Right to Repair isn’t just about laws — it’s about making noise, pushing back, and refusing to let corporations dictate what we can and can’t fix. If you’re fired up about this issue, here’s how you can make a difference:

1. Support Right to Repair Legislation – Laws like Massachusetts’ need to spread nationwide. Contact your state representatives and demand that they support strong Right to Repair laws — not industry-backed compromises.

2. Fight Against the SAFE Repair Act – This bill is a trap. If it passes, it could override Massachusetts’ victory and weaken repair rights across the country. Tell your representatives that this bill doesn’t go far enough.

3. Choose Independent Repair Shops – Every time you skip the dealership and support a local mechanic, you send a message that consumers deserve choices. Don’t let automakers monopolize repairs.

4. Stay Informed and Spread the Word – Most people don’t even know automakers are trying to limit their right to repair. Share this article, talk to friends, and call out corporate tactics when you see them. The more people who understand what’s at stake, the harder it becomes for automakers to push their agenda.

5. Use Your Right to Repair – If you can, fix your own car or support businesses that make independent repairs possible. Every time we choose repair over replacement, we make it clear that we won’t be locked out of what we own.

The industry is hoping we’ll move on, forget, and stop fighting. Let’s prove them wrong. Right to Repair is a movement, not a moment — and it’s only getting stronger.