The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) welcomes the recent action taken by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) against Honda Australia for an alleged breach of the Motor Vehicle Information Sharing Scheme (MVIS).
MTAA CEO Matt Hobbs stated, “This enforcement action demonstrates that while the scheme is relatively new the ACCC is watching and willing to take action to make sure the scheme is successful and there is an even playing field for independent repairers across Australia, no matter the brand of car.”
Key Points:
- Honda Australia paid an $18,780 penalty for allegedly violating the MVIS by only offering its diagnostic software through annual subscriptions, rather than providing daily or monthly options as required.
• This marks the ACCC’s first infringement notice under the MVIS, which came into effect on 1 July 2022.
The scheme ensures independent repairers have fair access to diagnostic software and technical data needed for servicing and repairing modern vehicles.
“Whilst we’re pleased to see the scheme functioning effectively, there is still room for improvement,” Hobbs added. “As the scheme is still relatively new it is critical that repairers let AASRA and ACCC know of any issues that have in gaining access to information needed to fix Australian cars.
The Australian Car market is continuing to evolve - new technologies including driver assistance as well as great numbers of hybrids and EVs going on sale and the MVIS will need to evolve with it.”
The MTAA forecasts that there will be over 160 additional EVs on sale by 2030 and over a dozen new brands will enter the market.
The MTAA emphasises the importance of all manufacturers adhering to the provisions of the Act to maintain a level playing field among data providers. This ensures that independent repairers can compete fairly in the automotive service and repair market.
Looking ahead, the MTAA will continue to advocate for improved access to repair information. Pushing for the inclusion of heavy vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and farm and agricultural machinery in the scheme to further support a diverse automotive industry.