Independent auto repair shops are increasingly facing roadblocks in offering cost-effective services and maintenance as vehicles become more technologically advanced, a new report suggests.
The study the Automotive Industries Association of Canada commissioned MNP to undertake shows a lack of repair information is keeping independent shops from providing timely services to their clients. Repair information can also often be paywalled or hidden, which increases repair costs, showed the report published Thursday.
“Traditionally, consumers have always had the right to choose where they get their vehicle serviced,” said Emily Holtby, the association’s vice-president of government relations.
“That is becoming harder and harder for independent shops because they need to access very specific data to service those vehicles,” she said, adding that manufacturers often decide how to disseminate data to independent shops….