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Attack on independent workshops
The state vehicle trade committee and the state vehicle technology guild in Vienna warned at a press conference with Arbö and Öamtc against restrictions on general access to vehicle data by automobile manufacturers.
Attack on independent workshops
Since 2001, the OBD connector in the vehicle has been required as a data interface for multi-brand diagnostic devices in the European Union. “This ensures that all mechanics have access to vehicle data in order to provide service and repairs,” explains Wolfgang Dytrich from the state vehicle trade committee in Vienna. Now the industry is alarmed since some vehicle manufacturers only allow limited data communication between OBD connectors and multi-brand diagnostic devices in their latest series models. Bernhard Wiesinger from Öamtc cites the brands Fiat and BMW as examples. Seven European associations are therefore submitting two amendments to the European decision-making bodies and calling for clear guidelines to continue to ensure free access to vehicle data for all market participants. “In Austria there are around 2,000 independent workshops that could lose their livelihoods if vehicle diagnostics are restricted,” warns Georg Ringseis, state guild master of vehicle technology in Vienna. Walter Birner from the Association of Independent Parts Dealers and Sebastian Obrecht from Arbö also join the call for unrestricted data access.