The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) held a board and general meeting for its members during AAPEX. A representative from the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) discussed Australia’s efforts to ensure independent shops and dealers have access to original equipment (OE) service information and tools.

Stuart Charity, chief executive officer of the AAAA, said the association’s mission is to promote a sustainable future for Australia’s automotive aftermarket industry. As part of this mission, AAAA has worked to ensure vehicles can be repaired safely, efficiently and affordably. To achieve this goal, the AAAA established the Australian Automotive Service and Repair Authority (AASRA).

“In Australia, we call our campaign ‘choice of repairer’ rather than ‘right to repair,’” Charity said. “We believe this is a consumer campaign, and it’s about ensuring every car owner has the right to choose who repairs their vehicle and which parts are used. Mandatory data sharing is the centerpiece of our campaign.”

AASRA was created as part of the Motor Vehicle Information Scheme (MVIS), which was enacted in 2022. The law promotes a fair playing field for independent shops and ensures consumers have a choice of repairer. Under the law, general repair and service information, as well as safety and security information for all vehicles manufactured after Jan. 1, 2002, must be made available to independent shops.

“The law essentially makes it illegal for car companies to withhold diagnostic repair information, tools and software from independent repairers,” Charity said. “They must provide this information on fair and reasonable commercial terms, with a robust definition of what that means. They are required to make information available in the same format as they provide to their authorized dealership network. For difficult-to-access items, they have a two-day deadline, and for diagnostic tools and software, they offer access on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis, giving repairers options.”

To implement the new mandate, Australia chose to adopt NASTF’s information standards and NASTF’s Vehicle Security Professional (VSP) program rather than creating a new system.

Basic AASRA membership costs 90 Australian dollars annually and includes 33 participating car brands. More than 3,000 technicians are registered, according to AASRA.