Today is a victory for consumers and the automotive aftermarket
alike as a bill aimed at attempting to lock out the industry
from important information relative to key information for
replacement in certain automobiles has been defeated. Failing
to pass the Assembly Floor today by a vote of 29 to 25, with 41
votes needed to pass, SB 750 which is sponsored by BMW, sought
to exempt automakers from providing electronic key code
information to locksmiths, requiring motorists to contact the
automaker, and the automaker, to get a replacement key for
their vehicle.
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Under the leadership of CAWA, industry advocates and AAA successfully
communicated concerns about motorists being inconvenienced and
often stranded in dangerous situations because they were not
able to obtain a replacement key from a locksmith due to
automakers refusal to provide this information which helped
convince legislators to vote against SB 750. In addition, CAWA argued that
this bill is anti-consumer and anti-competitive, which
resonated with many legislators.
“The key is much more than the instrument that enables one to
start their vehicle,” stated Steve Sharp of WORLDPAC and CAWA Chair of the
Board. “The key is coded with security information that is
tied into the vehicles computer system and will disable a
number of auto components including in some cases the
transmission, making the vehicle immobile as well as preventing
a vehicle from being started after certain major
repairs.”
CAWA successfully argued that the aftermarket industry has
developed a system for key coding and vehicle programming that
the majority of vehicle manufacturers follow to ensure both the
security of the vehicle as well as access to the independent
repair industry. SB 750 would have interfered with the ability
to have a vehicle serviced outside of the manufacturers’
network, and this in turn would create a potential hardship for
the consumer as well as create anti-competitive forces for the
independent automotive repair industry.
“SB 750 is eligible and may be brought up again by the Assembly
so CAWA will continue to remain vigilant in our lobbying and
grassroots efforts to defeat this anti-consumer, anti-
competitive measure”, stated Rodney K. Pierini, CAWA President
& CEO.
Founded in 1955, CAWA is a nonprofit trade organization
representing automotive jobbers, warehouse distributors,
retailers, manufacturers and manufacturers’ representatives in
California, Nevada and Arizona. CAWA’s mission is to provide
communications, education, legislative and regulatory advocacy
and group purchasing of services for its members while
promoting the automotive aftermarket industry.
