LEESBURG, Va. — The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF), a group founded in 2000 to address the gap in information availability between OEMs and independent repairers, is celebrating its first anniversary as a 501(c)-6 organization by reviewing accomplishments including ongoing work on the Secure Data Release Model (SDRM), which will give appropriately qualified and registered technicians and locksmiths a means of accessing key codes and other types of security data and service support systems. NASTF has also been successful at establishing a Collision Repair Committee to address those issues unique to the collision industry, and the group is responsible for the launch of a redesigned Web site (www.nastf.org). “We’ve come a long way in the past year,” says NASTF Administrator Mary Hutchinson. “Pilot testing for the SDRM with live users is gearing up, and we are in the planning stages of the development of a brand-new online module for submitting service information requests when information is missing.” “The process of incorporating NASTF brought together many diverse parts of the automotive industry,” says Charlie Gorman, NASTF chairman. “We’ve secured the funding necessary to get the organization formalized and made significant progress on key issues. Our ongoing challenges include developing a permanent funding model and improving the reporting process for obtaining the necessary service information from the vehicle manufacturers. We also want to continue to expand the involvement of all automotive service organizations.” Since it inception NASTF has processed more than 200 separate information requests, with only a few still outstanding. The NASTF Board of Directors is made up of representatives from the independent service dealer, tool and equipment, vehicle manufacturer and dealer segments, along with industry associations.
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