October 18, 2010—The Heartland Institute, a free-market think tank, release_notesd a study at NACE citing benefits of aftermarket parts and warning governments against heavy regulation.
According to the Heartland, the benefits of using aftermarket parts include:
• Cost Savings;
• Environmental Benefits;
• Safety;
• Quality.
"Certainly, consumers should and generally already do have the right to know when alternative parts are being used," said Alan Smith, a Heartland senior fellow. "The government needs to keep its focus on safety, and not side with particular commercial interests to the detriment of vehicle owners."
According to its website, the Heartland “actively oppose[s] junk science and the use of scare tactics in the areas of … public health.”
Vehicle manufacturers and others who support standardization of aftermarket parts in vehicles cite public safety as one of the primary reasons for using OEM parts or regulating the use of aftermarket parts.